Pea & Ham Soup

Well it is finally that time of the year where i get to bring out the soup recipes. My two favourites are Pumpkin and Pea & Ham, and i practically live on them during the colder months. I like to do up big batches of them and freeze them into portions for lazy dinners and work lunches.

I love the comforting feeling that soup gives, plus they are big on flavour and dead easy to make.

This is my mum's recipe for Pea & Ham soup, and although yes, it may not look that appealing, it tastes brilliant.

Pea & Ham Soup
500g packet green split peas
1 tbs olive oil
2 brown onions, coarsely chopped
3 carrots, peeled, coarsely chopped
3 celery sticks, ends trimmed, coarsely chopped
800g smoked bacon bones
2.75L water
2 dried bay leaves
Pepper, to taste

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook, uncovered, stirring often, for 10 minutes or until the onion is soft. Add the split peas, bay leaves, bacon bones and water. Cover and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 3/4 hours to 2 hours or until the bacon begins to fall off the bone and the soup thickens. Remove the pan from the heat.

Use tongs to remove the bacon bones from the pan. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Use your hands to pull the bacon off the bone. Discard the bone. Shred the bacon. Return the bacon to the soup and season with pepper.

Stir the soup over low heat for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. Serve with toasted bread or croutons.