Split Pea Soup

 

For myself, notes on making split pea soup, usually vegan, i.e. no ham.

MY RECIPE INGEDIENTS 

• 3.5 cups split peas
• 12 cups water
• Garlic, 1 flower
• Onions, 2 medium or large, yellow
• Chopped carrots, equal amount as onions, OK if more
• Corn, 1 can, drained
• Ginger, about two teaspoons fresh root. OK to use ginger powder but best if fresh.
• Ham, 1.75 pounds low sodium (750 mg/3 ounces) 
• Bay leaves, 5.
• dried spices
• Black pepper, 2 teaspoons
• Tarragon, 2 teaspoons
• Cayenne Pepper, 2 teaspoons. OK to substitute with crushed red pepper flakes
• Turmeric, 2 teaspoons

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STEP 1: In an 8-quart soup pot, add split peas and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. 

STEP 2: Prepare while step 1 is cooking. 

1. Chop up onions.
2. Sauté onions on low heat with olive oil with dried spices.
3. Microwave garlic for 45 seconds, while a shot glass with water is in microwave to soften. Peel garlic, then microwave for another 30 seconds. Toss into frying pan with onions midway through sautéing.
4. Add chopped carrots into frying pan midway through sauté. 
5. Chop up fresh ginger.
6. Dice up ham. 

STEP 3: Toss in all ingredients from step 2. Simmer for another 30 minutes

NOTES: Variations and explanations

1. Original recipe calls for 4 stalks celery, cubed. Wouldn't hurt to experiment with that.
2. Corn is added for methionine so that peas and corn make up a complete protein, though not as important if ham is added, but I like it regardless.
3. I prefer California bay leaves with sharp edges over Turkish bay leaves with round edges. Reason, Turkish is milder and sweeter whereas California is more flavorful.
4. Seems to taste better on second day or later after all flavors have soaked into the soup.
5. Experiment with when to add carrots. I've been adding midway during sautéing but could add them directly to the soup if crunchiness desired. Latest batch I microwaved them for a minute with shot glass of water on the side to soften them, but that may have been unnecessary.
6. Thinking next time, I may double the tarragon to see if that brings out flavor more.
7. Inspiration from PCC, but so many deviations might as well call it my own. Most importantly, I don't add salt for healthier meal. PCC Split Pea and Ham Soup recipe | PCC Community Markets (pccmarkets.com)

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