I’m lamenting the end of winter. The end of warm comfort food and soup. As soon as the leaves start to fall in Autumn and the days shorten to cool evenings, I’ve got the big soup pot out. It’s the ease of a mid week meal, a warm bowl in hand while watching an old movie on the box. The portability of a decent work lunch is a welcome relief from the work canteen.
We didn’t eat pork when I was growing up. My mother is not keen on it. Fortunately I rebelled. I have seen her side glances when my brother and I talk about some nice juicy pork belly and that I just can’t resist it.
As a consequence I didn’t grow up on ham and pea soup and this is, infact, the first time I’ve made it. I don’t know why I thought it was complicated, the process of finding a hock etc etc. It was, actually, ridiculously simple.
This was inspired by recipes from Tom Norrington-Davies and Stephanie Alexander.
There are many different ways to make this soup but I found this method to be just as simple and was satisfying to tend to on a Sunday afternoon.
Serves 4-6.
Smokey Hock and Green Pea SoupÂ
Ingredients
1 smoked ham hock (750g-1kg)
2 litres of water
3 carrots
1 brown onion, unpeeled, cut in half.
2 sticks of celery
3 cloves
1 clove of garlic, unpeeled
500g green split peas
Method
Put the hock in a large saucepan with the water, 2 whole carrots, brown onion, 1 celery stick, 3 cloves and the garlic clove (lightly crushed with the side of a knife). Bring to a simmer for about 3 hours or until the ham is cooked and falling away from the bone. Skim the surface over the cooking time to remove any scum that collects on top.
Remove the hock and set aside to cool a bit. Meanwhile remove the vegetables and discard. Strain the liquid and return to a clean saucepan. Bring the liquid to the boil, add the green peas and keep on a rolling simmer for about an hour or until the peas start to fall apart and it looks like mushy peas.
Strip off the skin and discard. Remove the ham from the bone and add it back to the soup. No need to add salt as the ham provides that but feel free to add black pepper.
I was surprised how good it tasted at this stage and the following step is purely optional, but I had already prepared the vegetables.
Finely dice 1 stick of celery and 1 carrot, saute in a medium hot pan with some olive oil. Once just softening, add to soup.
I’m definitely adding this to my winter soup list!
i hate the cold but i love all winter foods and your soup looks delish!
Thanks Suze. 🙂
Clearly you belong back in England if you are bemoaning the end of winter! 😉 It’s always winter here for at least a portion of each day, even in summer!
p.s. this looks like a good Autumnal soup 🙂 xx
Yeah it’s going to take some time to get used to 40ËšC+ days they have over summer here! I fear I might be taking solace in the sir-conditioned pub down the road.
sir-conditioned pub? hmmmm….Freudian slip?? 😉
lol yes definitely Freudian
I love Pea & Ham soup…The Boy seems to think he is the king of making it, but i think your recipe looks pretty good – better than his dare I say it!
Awh thanks Mel. I can’t believe I’ve never made it before, it’s so good.
Ooh I’m going to make this to celebrate the coming of Spring 😀
Thanks for reminding me of this humble beauty- it’s the husband’s favourite comfort dish. Should really pull my thumb out and make it again sometime soon.
Soups are great this time of year. I’m actually ready to start weaning off my winter comforts .. in the hope it hurries spring along!
I didn’t know you didn’t eat much pork growing up, maybe you should say that “fortunately you rebelled” not unfortunately as you state?! Pork is by far my favourite meat. Loved the look of that soup, we are missing you at The London Cooking Club.
Luiz @ The London Foodie
Yes I might just change that 🙂
I don’t think i have ever eaten pea and ham soup but i love the look of this recipe 🙂
I’m looking forward to the warm sun….
I love a good pea and ham soup. Thank goodness you rebelled!
Congratulations on your first pea and ham soup. I didn’t grow up with this soup growing up either so consequently the first time I made it, I completely overcooked it, oversalted it and burnt it!
Luckily I was brave enough to make it again and again. Delicious comforting stuff.
I’m not so much lamenting the end of winter but the end of delicious winter food like this! 🙂
This is my husband’s favourite comfort food- he literally can never get enough of it. This looks like a perfect version of it…