Author Notes
I love the miraculous simplicity of this soup, which takes only two main ingredients. The peas break down in the last stage of cooking – suddenly the soup goes thick as they collapse and release all their starch. Make a double batch and freeze some. —Candy Hutzell
Ingredients
- Ingredients
-
1
large smoked ham or bacon hock
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2
bay leaves
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3 cups
dried split green peas, rinsed and checked for stones
-
13 cups
water
- To serve: (optional)
-
crostini or croutons
Directions
- Ingredients
-
Place ham or bacon hock in a large pot with bay leaves
and 14 cups (3½ quarts) water. Bring to the boil, skimming off and discarding any scum that rises to the surface. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
-
While the meat cooks, place the split peas in a separate pot, cover with 6 cups water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the water has almost evaporated (about 40-45 minutes).
-
Lift ham or bacon hock out of cooking liquid, discard the skin, fat and bones and finely dice the meat. Return meat to the pot containing the cooking liquid and add the partly cooked peas, salt and pepper. Simmer gently until peas are fully broken down (about another 40 minutes).
- To serve: (optional)
-
Adjust seasonings to taste and serve with crostini or croutons,
if desired. Rib-Sticking Pea and Ham Soup will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or can be frozen.
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This recipe is from Annabel’s TV series Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook: Simple Pleasures, screening now on PBS. The accompanying book, containing all the recipes from the series, is available on amazon.com http://amzn.to/1GxXv0v
To preview the series go to http://bit.ly/1iKu2FW and for a PBS screening schedule go to http://bit.ly/1JDaUQD
For more great Annabel Langbein recipes see www.annabel-langbein.com
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