Split Pea Soup With Ham

Name: Split Pea Soup With Ham
Ingredients: 1/2 lb good quality bacon, diced; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 cups diced yellow onions; 4 diced carrots; 2 tablespoons chopped garlic; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1 bay leaf; 1 lb dried split peas, picked over and rinsed; 1 ham steak, cut into 1/2 inch squares; 3 (14 ounce) cans low sodium chicken broth; 1 cup water; 1 cup half-and-half; frank's hot sauce

13 ingredients

11 steps

Ingredients

1/2 lb good quality bacon, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups diced yellow onions
4 diced carrots
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf
1 lb dried split peas, picked over and rinsed
1 ham steak, cut into 1/2 inch squares
3 (14 ounce) cans low sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
1 cup half-and-half
frank's hot sauce

Directions

1

Fry the bacon in your soup pot and reserve for garnish.
2

Add the olive oil to the rendered bacon fat.
3

Add chopped onions and carrots. Cook & stir for 10-15 minutes.
4

Push to one side of the pot to make a hot spot.
5

Drop the red pepper flakes and garlic into the spot.
6

Cook the garlic/pepper a minute in that spot.until golden.
7

Add the bay leaf, split peas, ham, broth, water and bring to a boil.
8

Cover the soup and let it simmer for 60 minutes.
9

Remove the bay leaf and add the half and half.
10

The peas, onions and carrots should cooked enough to make the soup thick and vegetables indistinct, if not - use a hand blender -- but you'll lose the lovely ham cubes if you're too vigorous.
11

Serve with reserved bacon and hot sauce dribbled on top.