Traditional Ham & Pea

(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

         ¾ lb (340g) ham joint
         8 oz (226g) dried split peas
         2 onions (chopped)
         1 carrot (chopped)
         1 small turnip or swede (chopped)
         1 garlic clove (crushed)
         2 sprigs of mint
         2 pints (0.94 ltr) ham or chicken stock
         1 table spoon oil
         Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

Soak ham overnight in water to remove excess salt, then add to the slow cooker.

Add the oil to a hot saucepan and fry the onion and garlic until soft, then add the stock.

Simmer for 2-3 minutes then add to the cooker with the rest of the ingredients.

Cook for 6-7 hours then remove the ham and place on a chopping board.

Leave to cool, then add the contents of the slow cooker to a Blitzer or use a handheld device to blitz the mixture until smooth.

Chop or shred the ham, then add to the soup mix.

Re-heat before serving.

Taste then add seasoning as required.

 

 

 

Summary

Making soup is perhaps one of the most satisfying cooking experiences in the kitchen, as it is relatively simple and produces a good tasty dish in quick-time.

Soup can be made from almost anything, so do not be afraid to substitute or chop and change the recipes to suit you or your family’s tastes.

Try experimenting with herbs (fresh or dried) to enhance flavours. Fresh hot chilies can also be chopped and added to ‘spice things up’.

Tomato soup for instance can be given a boost by adding a couple of spoonful’s of tomato relish, and almost any soup will benefit from a level tablespoonful of sugar as this acts as a flavour enhancer.

Also don’t be afraid to water down the soup if it is too thick for your tastes, or indeed not add as much stock if you prefer a thicker soup. A little arrow-root or cornflour can be added to thicken if it is required.

 

I hope you enjoy these soup recipes, my family and friends certainly have! And indeed manage to get many more recipes, by using these ones to trigger your imagination and expand your soup selection choices.

 

If you have liked these soup recipes, then please let me know by leaving a review/comment on Amazon.