How about some split pea soup? You can enjoy some hot soup by the fire side any time you wish. But you may need some time to cook the soup. So, find some time and make enough soup so that you can use it for a few days. The best thing is that it freezes well and lasts for a few days. The pea soup is healthy and tasty too. The soup can be made in a number of ways according to the flavorings you like. So, you can experiment it with other ingredients too. If you want to make the soup, learn how to make split pea soup with the help of these easy instructions.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 30-40 minutes
Resources Required:
- 5-6 hamhocks
- A pack of split peas
- Small chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 10 julienned baby carrots
- Finely chopped celery stalk
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Water
- Crock pot
- A loaf of French or Italian bread
- Fresh and green salad
- Red wine
Instructions:
1. Open the pack of split beans
Open the pack of split beans and transfer the contents into a croc pot. Wash the peas well and add about 2 cups of water to it.
2. Cook on low flame
After adding water, add the hamhocks and one more cup of water. Follow with spices and vegetables. Cover the pot and cook on a low flame for about six hours. While the soup is cooking, you can do some other work or prepare other items.
3. Make the soup smooth and rich
This is optional. If you want to make the soup very rich and smooth, remove the hamhocks and carrots with a spoon and keep them aside. Now, use an electric mixer and mix the soup on high speed to get thick and smooth gravy. If you do not want it too thick, skip the step.
4. Put back the hamhocks and carrots
Take the carrots and hamhocks you have set aside and put them back into the soup. You can remove the skin from the hamhocks and slice the meat into small bits. While the soup is getting ready, prepare your fresh salad and toast the bread. Once they are done, you can enjoy the split pea soup with red wine, fresh salad and bread.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How to make split pea soup with ham?
To prepare the soup with ham you should add the peas, chicken broth, ham bones, bay leaf, majoram and pepper to a large pot. Cook this on a reduced flame for an hour. Remove the soup from the fire and keep it aside. Remove the ham bone and let it cool. Chop the meat from the bone and throw away the bone. Now, add the ham pieces, celery, carrot and onion to the soup. Keep the pot with all the contents to the fire and cook for about 20-30 minutes. The soup with ham is ready. Remove the bay leaf while serving.
Quick Tips:
- If you like you can add other flavors like coriander or cumin at the end of the cooking process.
- When you reheat the frozen soup, add some water while heating.
- Freeze the soup in plastic bags. When filling the bags, use the support of a bowl and fill it properly. Seal the open end and store.
- Pea soup tastes best on the second day. So, do not be afraid of keeping plenty of leftovers.
- By using the croc pot and keeping the flame low, you can prevent the soup from burning.
- If you want a thick and rich soup, use a blender to mash the peas.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Use a low flame for cooking to prevent burning of the soup.
- Stir regularly to prevent the soup from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Use tongs to get the ham bones out of the soup.
