Split Pea Soup With Pumpernickel Croutons

Serves: 4

Amie Torphy

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

50

Spice

52

Sweetness

56

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.2

Difficulty

Ingredients:

16 cups

Water

4 large

Carrot

1 large

Onion (chopped)

5 tbsps

Olive Oil

1 tsp

Table Salt

1 tsp

Black Pepper

1 tsp

Kosher Salt

Directions:

1

Simmer ham hocks in 16 cups water in a deep 6-quart pot, uncovered, until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours

2

Transfer ham hocks to a cutting board and measure broth: If it measures more than 12 cups, continue boiling until reduced; if less, add enough water to total 12 cups

3

When hocks are cool enough to handle, discard skin and cut meat into 1/4-inch pieces (reserve bones)

4

Chop 2 carrots and cook along with onion and celery in 2 tablespoons oil in a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes

5

Add split peas, table salt, pepper, ham hock broth, and reserved bones and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until peas are falling apart and soup is slightly thickened, about 1 1/2 hours

6

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F

7

While soup simmers, toss bread with remaining 3 tablespoons oil and kosher salt in a large bowl, then spread in 1 layer in a large shallow baking pan and bake until crisp, about 10 minutes

8

Cool croutons in pan on a rack

9

Halve remaining 2 carrots lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices

10

Remove bones from soup with a slotted spoon and discard

11

Add carrots and ham pieces to soup and simmer, uncovered, until carrots are tender, 10 to 15 minutes

12

Add frozen peas and simmer, uncovered, stirring, until just heated through, about 3 minutes

13

Season with salt

14

Serve soup with croutons

15

Simmer ham hocks in 16 cups water in a deep 6-quart pot, uncovered, until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours

16

Transfer ham hocks to a cutting board and measure broth: If it measures more than 12 cups, continue boiling until reduced; if less, add enough water to total 12 cups

17

When hocks are cool enough to handle, discard skin and cut meat into 1/4-inch pieces (reserve bones)

18

Chop 2 carrots and cook along with onion and celery in 2 tablespoons oil in a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes

19

Add split peas, table salt, pepper, ham hock broth, and reserved bones and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until peas are falling apart and soup is slightly thickened, about 1 1/2 hours

20

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F

21

While soup simmers, toss bread with remaining 3 tablespoons oil and kosher salt in a large bowl, then spread in 1 layer in a large shallow baking pan and bake until crisp, about 10 minutes

22

Cool croutons in pan on a rack

23

Halve remaining 2 carrots lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices

24

Remove bones from soup with a slotted spoon and discard

25

Add carrots and ham pieces to soup and simmer, uncovered, until carrots are tender, 10 to 15 minutes

26

Add frozen peas and simmer, uncovered, stirring, until just heated through, about 3 minutes

27

Season with salt

28

Serve soup with croutons