Swine & Sea — Split Pea Soup with Tasso ham — French Creole Recipe

Split Pea Soup with Tasso ham

One of my favorite soups growing up was my mother’s split pea soup.  It was her “chicken noodle soup”, nothing special beyond the love that she put into it.  Over the years, I’ve switched out the ham to be Tasso ham.   Take a fine dice of it and fry it until it becomes crispy bits. It  adds that perfect saltiness to the soup.

Cooked with
If you want this to taste like the version I’m writing about, start here. This is the backbone.
View Tasso Ham
Tasso Ham

Recipe

  • 1 lb.

    dried green split peas

  • 4 oz.

    Tasso Ham , finely diced

  • 1

    large yellow onion , diced

  • 2

    garlic cloves , diced

  • 1

    large carrot , peeled and diced

  • 1

    celery stalk , finely diced

  • 2

    bay leaves

  • 2 sprigs

    fresh thyme

  • 6 cups

    chicken stock
    Step 1

  • In a large bowl place the dried split peas and cover with cool water, stir once to make sure the peas don't stick. The water will be hazy. Skim off any floating skins and then drain the peas.

    • Step 2

  • Cover the split peas with water again. Stir the peas once again and allow any skins to float to the top. Skim off the skins and then drain once again and set aside.

    • Step 3

  • Heat a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the Tasso ham, stirring often, render the fat off the Tasso ham and allow the bits to crisp.

    • Step 4

  • Using a slotted spoon remove the Tasso ham from the Dutch oven onto a paper towel lined plate and set aside.

    • Step 5

  • Leave about 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat in the pan.

    • Step 6

  • Add the onions to the pot and cook until the begin to soften. Approximately 5 minutes.

    • Step 7

  • Add the garlic to the pot and cook for another minutes.

    • Step 8

  • Add the carrot and celery to pot and cook until they begin to soften, approximately, 5 minutes.

    • Step 9

  • Add the split peas, bay leaves, thyme sprigs and chicken stock to the pot. Bring to a boil.

    • Step 10

  • houLower the temperature to a simmer and allow the soup to simmer until the peas become tender, approximately 1 hour.

    • Step 11

  • Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs.

    • Step 12

  • Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth.

    • Step 13

  • Season with salt and pepper.

    • Step 14

  • Server the soup in a bowl and then top with the Tasso ham bits.