Simple Ham and Yellow Split Pea Soup

Preparation time: 10 minutes; Cooking time: 1 hour; Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 30g (2 tablespoons) butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• ½ cup finely diced bell pepper
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup diced smoked ham
• 250g (½ Ib, 1⅓ cups) split yellow peas, washed until clear and drained
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock (broth)
• Bouquet Garni (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (Note: the smoked ham is very salty)
• Finely chopped herbs to top

Instructions

1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a pot or skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, bell pepper and carrots and sauté about 10 minutes until soft.
2. Add the ham and the peas and continue cooking about 2 minutes. Season the soup with pepper.
3. Add the stock (broth), and bouquet garni if using and bring to the boil and simmer 45-60 minutes. If the soup is too thick you can add a little more stock. Readjust seasoning.
4. Remove the bouquet garni and serve the soup.

Points to Note

1. The ham is very salty so taste the soup before adding salt.
2. if you want the peas to maintain their shape then you’ll probably cook them for about 40 minutes. I like mine mushed up. Adjust the time accordingly

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