Split Pea Soup With Ham And Vegetables

Total Time: 3 hrs 55 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 1/2 cups dried split green peas
• 1 liter low sodium chicken broth (campbells)
• 1/2 liter low sodium vegetable broth (campbells)
• 1 (1 1/2-2 lb) smoked ham hock, very roughly chopped, bone included
• 3 carrots, skinned, split and finely coined
• 1 onion, diced
• 20 green beans, chopped to 3/4-inch lengths
• 2 -3 tablespoons garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup pot barley (optional)
• 1 cup frozen peas

Recipe

• 1 empty the chicken and vegetable stock into a large pot, heat to a low boil.
• 2 add split peas and chunks and bones of ham hock, ensuring all are covered.
• 3 simmer for about 2.5 hours until peas are tender.
• 4 evacuate ham chunks to a cutting board and allow to cool.
• 5 drain stock and reserve.
• 6 toss peas into a blender and puree carefully until smooth.
• 7 mix peas into the reserved stock and set to simmer.
• 8 skin ham chunks and discard skin and fat.
• 9 debone the meat and slice small 1/2" square pieces; add to soup mix.
• 10 add barley if desired and stir periodically so it soesn't stick and burn to the pot.
• 11 add onion, garlic and carrots and stir.
• 12 allow this to simmer about an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
• 13 add beans and peas, stirring, allow these to cook about 15 minutes.
• 14 you may serve like this, with or without croutons, or pour into indivdual tupperware containers and freeze for future use.