How to make delicious Split Pea Soup

How to make Split Pea Soup.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Olive Oil

   Split Pea soup can be made a few different ways. However, I have a very quick and delicious recipe that everyone will love. First you will need, 1- 2 bags of split peas, 3 bay leaves, 1 onion diced, 1 garlic clove diced, ½ cup light olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon sea salt, 3 carrots diced, 3 medium or 1 large ham bone, 1 small package of diced smoked ham pieces

2. 
   Ham Bone

   In a large stewing pot place oil, butter, onion and diced garlic. Over medium heat sauté onion, garlic, butter & olive oil, add 1-2 bags of dry split peas, add water, make sure beans are completely covered (about 5 –6 cups). Add salt, pepper, carrots, ham bone, bay leaf, cover with lid, and allow simmering on medium- low heat for approximately 3 ½ hours. Make sure you stir occasionally throughout the process; you don’t want the soup to burn or stick to the bottom of saucepan.

3. After about 3 hours check soup, by this time soup should be fairly thick, you can add additional water to thin out. Simmer an additional 30 minutes covered. Remove from stove and remove ham bone and any bone fragments. Remove any excess meat from ham bone and return to soup, add about 1 cup of smoked diced ham and return to stove, simmer about 15 more minutes

4. Once soup is finished allow sitting for about 15 minutes prior to serving. As soup sits, it will become even thicker and delicious. Enjoy!