Sunday 28 February 2010

Sunday 28th Feb 2010 - Waste Not Want Not Pea Soup

Well Keith reigns triumphant again!  Not just one packet of green split peas (Jasper:   yes you have mistaken peas for .......... something else!) but two!   That should ensure pea soup for the foreseeable!  This is my Waste Not Want Not Pea Soup.  

You really need to have cooked some smoked ham the day before.  What I do is cover it with cold water, about 2 litres, bring it to the boil then simmer it for an hour.  That done, lift it into a roasting pan, remove the skin (but leave the fat on) and roast it, uncovered,  gas mark 6 for 30 minutes.  Don't throw that precious water away that you boiled the ham in because the next thing you do is cook your potatoes in it - a few more than you need for eating with the ham - until they're tender.  With a slotted spoon take out what you need for that meal and leave the remainder in the water.  Well, stock really.  When your pan of stock and potatoes is cold stick it in the fridge:  that's one less pan to wash up today!  Keep the beautiful remnants of smoked ham too.

Before you go to bed put about 5 ounces green split peas in a basin.  Cover them with cold water, stick them in the fridge too and go get a good night's sleep.


Now, next day is SOUP DAY.  Get your pan of stock and spuds out and your dish of soaked peas.  Drain the peas into a colander (you can let that water go - though it might do for watering your plants if you really don't want to waste it.) and rinse them well.  Tip them into the stock pan, along with a couple of cloves of garlic and a chopped onion - red in my case, there being somewhat of a glut(!) - and the lean remains of your smoked ham roast, cut tiny.


Onto the stove with it, bring it to the boil, with the lid on, then let it all simmer away merrily for about 50 minutes or so, stirring occasionally, until the peas are tender.  Note that I said "Bring it to the boil", not let it boil (she said, sternly)!


OK?  At this point it looks horrid.  If you've got a stick blender you might like to plug it in now and use it to make this pan of mush and juice into a pan of lovely thick soup.  Otherwise you.ll have to do it in batches in a food processor or a blender.  If the worst comes to the worst use a potato masher to squash all the lumpy bits.


Taste it - more seasoning?  Salt and pepper it to your own taste and just to be posh serve it with a swirl of cream, but you want the over-riding flavour to be the peas and smoked ham with a certain je ne sais quoi..  And if you can find any of THAT in a shop, you're a better man than I Gunga Din!

12 comments:

Jan said...

Mmmmm delicious Angie ,First thing tomorrow Im off to buy peas and ham ,love you intructions ,not quite like any other recipe Ive read ...but alot more fun ..love Jan xx

Jojo said...

I'm so glad you stopped by today! I am hoping we are going to warm up a bit so that I can switch over to salads. It's been so cold this winter I am on the verge of being "souped up!"

I haven't traveled in Germany so I'm very excited about it. We have a very good friend from Munich who says that the German's in the south are the warmest and most fun. If the people are anything like her, it must be true. I just love your mother's cake!! It's gorgeous.

Rita said...

Hi Angie,
That almost sounds like my french canadian pea soup; only I make it with dried whole yellow peas.mmmm good.
Rita

RuthnJasper said...

Yayy!! The K-man reigns supreme! Whatta guy. My dad is USELESS at shopping.

That soup sounds absolutely delicious. I've got three of the "New Covent Garden" soup recipe books, as I LOVE making soups and they're so economical if you use ingredients in season. It's fun to experiment with veggies we haven't tried before as well, and it's a FAB way to use pumpkin flesh from our Jasperwe'en Jasp-o'lanterns. Jasper loves tasting them too. We make loads and then freeze it in portion-sized tubs.

We've got a REALLY good recipe for red onion soup with a goats cheese/fremch bread topping - we can let you have it if you want.

Lots of love to you, Sal, and the Prince of Peas... ;-) x

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

My mouth is watering as that soup sounds so good. Glad the peas were bought in time to use that good ham broth. Thanks for sharing that delicious recipe. A lot of times I make bean soup when I have ham, now I'll have to try out the pea soup recipe!

Jackie said...

My favorite soup is pea soup. You have made it sound mouth-watering good, Angie!!! Thank you for sharing.
Many many hugs to you!
Jackie

Jackie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kath said...

Sounds delish,but after ham and pea soup I am always thirsty all day long.keep up the good cooking.Ope you are well.Forgot to mention in last comment,I have often wondered if the flash on cameras without the bangs,scare dogs as fireworks do.Take Care God Bless Kath xx

Andy said...

Mmm sounds rather tasty, I will be round!

Anonymous said...

Hi Angie...yes..this is me..from KY..commenting...finally...thanks for dropping in my blog eve when I wasn't around...and your pea soup sounds good...but sorry to say..my family wouldn't touch it...so will by the instant packet for me...!!! all is well here...nice weather for a change...more later...love and hugs from Ora in KY

Grammy Staffy said...

Hello dear,
I love split pea soup. I wish I could drop in and have a bowl with you. I always make one pot of split pea soup and one pot of pinto bean soup after I bake a ham. They are both so good with the left over ham. Actually I usually put the left over ham in the pea soup and use the bones to flavor the beans. As you say, waste not...want not. I am glad that my mother taught me to be thrifty.

I love the snuggy Keith got you. I want one of those too. John just laughts at me but I think they look so cozy.

I am glad Keith found your split peas. I just got a new crock pot and I am planning to make beef stew this week. It is still cool enough here to enjoy soups and stews.

Thanks for your concern about Lynell and blog support. I have been so worried about her and Marie. I know they are both in God's hands but my heart aches to know they are goig through hard times.

I hope this finds you doing well. Have a nice week. Hugs, Lura

Marie Rayner said...

Tell Keith, he can make pea soup for me any day!! One of my favourites and this sounds pretty delicious! xxoo