Split Pea Soup & Ham

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups yellow onions, chopped
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 lb dried split peas, picked over and rinsed
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 ham steak, cut into 1 inch pieces
• hot sauce (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a large soup pot over medium-high heat, heat the oil.
• 2 add the onions.
• 3 season with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper.
• 4 saute for 2 minutes.
• 5 add the garlic, bay leaf, and split peas and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• 6 add the broth and ham.
• 7 bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or more, until the peas are tender.
• 8 remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• 9 remove the bay leaf and discard.
• 10 add the milk and, using a hand-held blender or potato masher, process until smooth.
• 11 add the hot sauce if desired and serve hot.