Pea and Ham Soup

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• Oil for frying
• 2 litres of water
• 2 meaty bacon bones
• 1-2 cloves of garlic minced
• 2 celery stalks diced
• 2 carrots diced
• 400g of yellow or green split peas washed
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 black peppercorns
• 3 sprigs thyme (optional)
• Crusty bread to serve

Directions

1. Add water to a pot and bring to the boil.
2. Sautee onion, garlic, carrots and celery in a medium pan with oil.
3. Lightly brown bacon bones on the pan for extra flavour.
4. Add all ingredients to the boiling water and cook for 1-2 hours or until ham falls off the bone.
5. Remove bacon bones, peel meat and add back into the soup.
6. Allow to slightly cook then serve.

Tip

• If you soak split peas overnight they will cook faster