67: Split Pea Soup / The Start of Soup and Slow Cooking Season 2011

What does my dog shedding and my making of soup have in common? The start of cooler weather and slow cooking season! It was unseasonably cold in DC today, only about 60 degrees and rainy. I would normally frown upon such weather, but I’m happy it prompted me to make soup. Making soup is my second favorite thing to do when it gets cold out. The first is obviously slow cooking and braising meat. Of course, it could actually be a couple months before it gets and stays cool here.

Split pea is soup is usually made with ham hocks, but I still had leftover smoked turkey legs from this dinner that had not gone bad in my fridge. The soup turned out incredibly flavorful with just enough of the smoked turkey legs in the flavor. Without further adieu…

Ingredients and Directions:

2 1/4 cups green split peas

1/2 large onion, peeled and chopped

4 cups chicken stock

5 cups water

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 large leek, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

3 large clove of garlic, halved

2 smoked turkey leg bones

1-2 tablespoons of flour (optional)

Thyme

Parsley

Salt and Pepper

Olive oil

Butter

Soup-- Pick over the peas and remove any stones. Wash and drain peas, twice. Heat a couple tablespoons of oil and butter over medium high heat in a 4 quart pan. Add veggies once utter is crackling. Sauté veggies until onions are translucent, 5-6 minutes. Now add the vegetables, seasoning, stock and water. Bring to a simmer. Skim the scum (a film residue that forms and easily identifiable bc of the foam) off the top of the soup for several minutes, until the scum ceases to rise, about 12-15 minutes. Cover the pot loosely and simmer about 1.5 hours, or until peas are tender. Remove the turkey legs from the soup, scraping whatever leftover meat is on the bones into the soup pot. Purée the soup with a handheld immersion blender until liquefied. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. 

(Optional: For a thicker soup, add 1 tablespoon of flour to the pot 20 minutes before finished, stir in well. See how thick it gets after about 5-6 minutes, and decide if you want it thicker. Add another tablespoon of flour if you desire. I did.)

Enjoy!!