Pea and Ham Soup

Ingredients

• 500 grams green split peas
• 3 ea carrots, diced
• 3 sticks celery, diced
• 1 ea brown onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 hock ham, trimmed of fat
  or
  • 500 grams lean ham
• 1 teaspoon chicken stock
• 12 cups water
• 1 ea bay leaf
• 1 pinch (to taste) pepper

Steps

1. Wash the split peas and pick over to remove any discoloured grain.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large pot.
3. Cover and simmer for approx 1 - 1.5 hours, or until thickened. Stir Occasionally.
4. Remove hock and prepare by removing skin, dice ham and return to soup.
5. Discard Bay Leaf
6. Puree soup in a food processor or blender.
7. Season with pepper, and serve.