Recipe: Thick pea, ham and vegetable soup

Thick Pea, Ham and Vegetable Soup. Photo / NZH

Thick pea, ham and vegetable soup

Serves 6

• 25g butter
• 2 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 medium sized carrots, chopped
• 1 stick celery, chopped
• 2 litres good stock or water
• 1 ham hock
• 250g yellow or green split peas
• ½ teaspoon salt, freshly ground pepper
• ¼ cup chopped parsley
• Croutons, to sprinkle on top

1. Melt the butter in a large pot. Add the onions, garlic, carrot and celery. Sweat for 8-10 minutes until soft but not brown.

2. Add the stock, ham, split peas, salt and pepper.

3. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 hours or until the meat is falling off the bone and the peas are soft. Remove the hock and pull the meat from the bone, dice and return to the soup.

4. Just before serving add freshly chopped parsley. Top each bowl with chunky croutons.

- VIVA