"My husband has long been a fan of peas and pea soup. His mom used to serve peas as a side dish and make split pea soup all the time. Truth be known though I didn’t care for peas as a side dish and seldom had split pea soup. I remember having a bowl of her soup when we were dating and it was delicious. So what was her secret to delicious split pea soup? The hock! A meaty ham hock is key for delicious split pea soup."

This is one of those recipes that exact measurements aren’t that important. It’s so simple you almost don’t even need a recipe. If you’re making split pea soup stovetop, use a heavy dutch oven or stockpot. You’ll need to simmer for a few hours and you don’t want the soup burning on the bottom.

• Ingredients:
• • one pound or about 2 cups of dry split peas
• • 2 onions, chopped
• • 2 or more cloves garlic, chopped
• • 3 celery ribs, chopped
• • 4 carrots
• • 1 bay leaf
• • 1 ham bone or *ham hock (the best!)
• • 4 or more cups of chicken broth (I use my bone broth)
• • 2 cups water (add more or less for desired thickness)
• • salt and freshly ground pepper
• • oil for browning (I use avocado or coconut for browsing and olive oil for sauteing )

Instructions:

1. Boil 2 cups of split peas for 30 minutes, turn off the heat and allow to sit for an hour. You can also soak your peas overnight.
2. Add a high burning oil (coconut or avocado) to your dutch oven and brown your ham hock.
3. Add chopped onion and salt. Saute until translucent.
4. Chop carrot and celery, add to pot along with garlic.
5. After a few minutes add the split peas, bay leaf, and chicken broth. I use my bone broth for extra nutrition.
6. Simmer for a couple hours.
7. If your ham hock is really meaty, remove it from the pot, cut off the meat, and add it back into the pot.
8. Once the peas have broken down, your soup is ready!
   
   

   Serve traditional split pea soup as a side dish or make it in to a full meal with a side salad and crusty sourdough bread with little bit of creamy butter.

   PS: While you are here, why not give a try to our delicious vino! Click here to learn more.