Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Food, Cooking, and Game Preparation split pea soup

I picked up some great northern dried beans yesterday, along with more smoked ham hocks and two 1/2" slices of black forest ham.

Going to make "white bean" soup tonight.

I love soups in cool weather. Good comfort food!

Virgil B.

Made my Great Northern bean soup last night.

It turned out GREAT, but was a little "gassy" (WHEW!)

Virgil B.

Split Pea with Ham Soup

2 tsp olive oil
1 ½ cups chopped onion (1 med-lrg)
1 cup each chopped celery and carrots (3 reg stalks and 1 lrg carrot)
1 medium potato, cubed
2 tsp minced garlic (or 2 cloves)
1 tsp dried thyme (1/2 tsp ground thyme or 1 tbsp fresh)
½ tsp oregano
8 cups water + 4 pckgs chicken boullion (or 4 cups water + 4 cups broth)
1 smoked ham hock (I prefer cubed ham, about 225 grams)
2 cups dry split peas, rinsed and drained
½ tsp pepper
salt to taste
curry powder optional, to taste
other optional: bay leaf, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• Put water in pot and simmer ham hock for at least one hour to loosen the meat (keep the water). Remove the ham hock, separate the bone and fat, and cut the meat into small chunks, and put the meat back in the water.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the garlic, onions, celery, carrots, and potatoes until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and oregano and cook for 1 more minute.
• Add vegetables to pot, along with the rest of the ingredients. Bring to boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for at least 1 hour (the longer the better).

interesting

8 c. water
1 lb split peas (2 cups)
1 large onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 t. thyme
Ham hock
2 carrots, diced
1 stalk celery, 1/4" slices (optional)
2 T. sherry
S&P

Add first six ingredients and bring to boil, then lower to slow simmer. Partially cover and stir periodically. Cook until thickened, about 4-5 hours. Remove ham hock and pull meat, returning to pot with carrots and celery, if using. Cook until carrots tender, 30-45 minutes. Adjust S&P as needed and stir in sherry. Serve with the all-important oyster crackers!

^^^^Regarding the recipe above, I made tonight and substituted 4 c. low sodium chicken broth for 4 c. of the water. Also, The Mrs. is trying to up our consumption of green leafy substances (no, not that, silly) so an entire small bag of fresh spinach got added. Didn't want to but did. It was fine. Better than fine. Good.

PS For an extra kick, put a shake or two of white pepper in the batch.

Dang you Virgil......now look what you've gone and done.

God above I love split pea.

Lord above....it does not like me!

i know someone who can't eat cabbage

Warmed up a bowl of last night's soup for lunch today and told my wife "There is no food more comforting." (Lima beans and ham is a close second.)

I'm a big fan of the bean/pea/legume as long as there's some smoked pork involved.

Going to have to try Lima beans and ham next!

That sounds darn good also!

Had another bowl of my great northern beans and ham, last night.

They get better after setting over a night or two.

Virgil B.