Smoked Ham and Pea Soup

Smoked Ham and Pea Soup

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• ½ pound of chick peas
• 1 pound of smoked ham
• 2 potatoes
• 3 carrots
• 3 quarts of chicken stock
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Bacon to garnish

Instructions

1. To begin, place the peas inside 1 quart of the chicken stock to soak. Let the peas soak for a couple of hours to reduce the actual cooking time.
2. Once the peas have soaked, place the pot of peas and stock on the stove to heat. Add the rest of the stock, and bring the peas to a boil.
3. Let the peas boil for 45 minutes as you cut and peel the carrots and potatoes, and only add these vegetables once the peas are cooking. Add half a pound of smoked meat to the soup, making sure to leave it whole.
4. Let the soup cook for another half an hour, after which time you will need to fish the meat from the soup pot. Add salt and pepper as desired.
5. Once you have removed the meat, use a stick blender, or food processor to blend the soup into a pureed dish. Return the soup to the stove, and continue cooking as you slice the smoked meat.
6. Serve into bowls with a few slices of the bacon on the side to add flavor and garnish.

Source: amazingsouprecipes