Our Family Cookbook - Split Pea Soup


Penny Ashton - 1990 8 servings - 1 cup each

SPLIT PEA SOUP

You may cook as follows or combine everything and cook 1 ½ - 2 hrs. OR use a Crock Pot & cook 10 to 12 hours on low.

1	lb	Split Peas	>	Sort Peas & Rinse.

1 ½	lb	Ham Hocks	>	Simmer 30 mins.[1] Skim any foam that rises. Cool & Skim. Remove meat from Hocks. Discard bones.
2	qts	water	>

1	Lg	Celery (chopped)	>	Add to kettle. Split Peas, Meat, Veggies & seasonings. Simmer 1 ½ hours.
1	Lg Stalk	Carrot (chopped)
1	Lg	Onion (chopped)
2	Clv	Garlic
¼	t	Ground Cloves
¼	t	Allspice (optional)
1	pnch	Cayenne Pepper (optional)
1		Bay Leaf

Stir occasionally, add water if needed.

Remove Bay Leaf and if you haven’t removed meat from ham hocks, do so now. Taste & Season with Salt & Pepper if desired. For creamy soup force through a sieve. For Courser soup, with more fiber value, whirl in food processor.

Options:
You may add milk or whipping cream for creamed split pea soup. You may make a roux (pronounced “ROO” like in Winnie the Pooh) of 2 T. sweet butter & 1 T. flour. Add to simmering soup to thicken. Do both.


[1]	If you refrigerate broth, the fat will congeal on the surface and you can lift it off. If you don’t plan to chill the soup, wait until soup is finished, just before puréeing, to separate bones & meat.