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The making of Smoky Split Pea Soup
What could be easier, or more versatile than a soup like this Smoky Split Pea Soup?
Easily cooked all day in a crockpot, cooked quickly in a pressure cooker or even slowly simmered on the stove-top, Smoky Split Pea Soup is perfect for lunch or dinner. And most of us have or should have the ingredients on hand. Split peas, onions, carrot, a ham bone or a couple of meaty ham hocks. What? Don’t you keep ham hocks in your freezer? Well, you should. They come in handy for both this soup and my Ham and Navy Bean Soup. But if you don’t, you could substitute, with some success, either smoked kielbasa cut into cubes or even bacon.
The Star – Split Peas
Split peas come either green or yellow. While they are both the same for flavor and cooking times, I find it best to choose one color or the other to keep the color of the soup true, not murky. My personal color preference is green, but if yellow floats your boat as being a more appetizing color, go for yellow.
Split peas are high in protein and low in fat, containing only one gram of fat per 350 calories. Most of the calories come from protein and complex carbohydrates. The split pea is known to be a natural food source that contains some of the highest amounts of fiber, 26 grams per 100-gram portion Fiber, of course, helps the digestive system and makes you feel full and satiated.
It’s a “Dump” Soup
I love this soup as it’s more of a dump soup. No sautéing needed, unless using bacon. If using bacon, fry it up a bit to cook it just a little and to release some of the fat, then add the other ingredients. Otherwise, just put everything into the pot, turn on your heat, and let it go to town. About 6 hours on high in the crockpot, about 30 minutes in the pressure cooker.
30 minutes in a pressure cooker … now that’s fast food I can get behind.
This soup freezes beautifully, so whenever I make it, I make extra. Instant lunches. Instant dinners. I like instant.
One thing I have noticed about split pea soup, and this Smoky Split Pea Soup is no different, the soup seems to thicken as it sits; so be sure to thin it with a little water, or chicken stock when reheating.
The Crouton
I love using old rye bread to make croutons. The crouton adds a nice crunch. In this case, I had some very dense German-style rye that I cubed and baked in a 325º oven for about 10 or 15 minutes; just until they get crisp. You can toss them in a little melted butter first, but I don’t find that to be necessary.
Not necessary, but good…
And if you have trouble finding good rye bread, like I sometimes do, then you can make your own with this recipe for A Quick, no Knead Crusty Rye Bread.
So pick a pot, throw in some split peas and a few veggies, and let’s make some Smoky Split Pea Soup.
Smoky Split Pea Soup with optional crouton.
Smoky Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups green split peas (about 1 pound)
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 1 cup diced peeled carrot
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1 - 2 bay leaf 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 - 3 meaty ham hocks, (depending on their meatiness)
- Cold water (everyone should have this ingredient in their home)
- Salt and pepper, to taste (I add this at the end, to taste, as ham hocks have different salt and smokiness levels all the time)
- Optional Ingredients: Rye bread or other crouton.
- Dry sherry
Method
Step 1
If making in a pressure cooker
If you are in a hurry, put the split peas in the pot with the about 8 cups of cold water and start the fire. You can chop and add the vegetables as they get done. Add the vegetables, bay leaf, ham hocks and enough water to cover by 2 inches. When it comes to a simmer, close the lid on the pressure cooker; allow it to come to pressure. When pressure is reached, lower the heat to low, and allow to cook for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat; allow the cooker to cool naturally, about 5 - 10 minutes.Step 2
Uncover and check for doneness. Remove the ham hocks and set aside to cool. Allow the split peas and vegetables to just simmer on top of the stove for a few minutes until the peas are mere mush. (It's o.k. if the carrots still look like carrots, as a matter of fact, it's preferred). Add water if the soup seems too thick. Allow the ham hocks to cool until they don't burn your hands anymore, then, carefully cut, pull or otherwise extract the meat from the bones. Chop the meat into little fine pieces and add back to the soup. Stir well. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3
If making in the crockpot
Place the split peas, onions, carrot, and celery into the crockpot, add water to cover by 2 inches, then nestle in the ham bone or hocks. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours, or low for 8 hours. Once cooked, carefully remove the bone(s) and extract the meat when cool enough to handle. Return meat to the pot and taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.Step 4
If making on the stovetop
Follow the directions for the pressure cooker, allowing about 2 1/2 hours of simmer time.Step 5
Did you know that whoever gets the bay leaf is the boss that night? Yep, old family tradition. Or you can remove them before serving.
LindySez: Just a drizzle of sherry in the soup brings it to life.
posted by Chris on January 6, 2015
One of my favs! I usually double the split peas… I like my spoon to stand up in this soup 🙂
posted by LindySez on January 6, 2015
Well, if you don’t thin it…that’s what you get 🙂
posted by Cher on January 15, 2015
The PERFECT dish on a cold winter day – looks fabulous!
posted by LindySez on January 16, 2015
Thanks Cher, tastes pretty darn good too 🙂 Cheers ~ Lindy
posted by Elaine Schoch on January 15, 2015
Looks delish! And I love “dump” soups too. So easy…
posted by LindySez on January 16, 2015
Aren’t they though? Just toss it in and set it to cook…easy peasy. Cheers ~ Lindy