split peas
This is one of those cold weather soups that is a classic. The smoked ham hock gives it wonderful flavor. A soup like this works really well in a slow cooker. Just load it up, forget about it and presto, you’ve got soup. Its nice to be a lazy cook sometimes. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can make this on the stove.
Split Pea Soup in a Slow Cooker or on the Stove
2 cups dried green split peas, rinsed
1 smoked ham hock**
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup chopped onion
2 ribs celery plus leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups chicken stock
Layer the ingredients into a slow cooker in the order given above. Add the stock last. No need to stir the ingredients. Just cover and cook. This soup will take 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low. The peas will be very soft and the ham will fall off the bone.
No slow cooker? You can put all of the ingredients in the order listed in a large soup pot. Turn on the heat and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally until you have a hearty soup. 2 hours or a bit longer to really blend the flavors.
