Delicious & Nutritious Pea & Ham Soup that kids LOVE!

I have a few Pea & Ham Soup recipes at home (one of which was by the very handsome Aussie Chef Curtis Stone), but I decided to blend 3 of my favourites and create my own. I love this recipe as do my kids. I also make parmesan shapes to go with them…add a bit of FUN to dinner!

Serves 8 – 10

Ingredients:

Pea & Ham Soup

1 600g ham/bacon hock trimmed of fat

500g green split peas

4 carrots – peeled & roughly chopped

1 large brown onion (or 2 small)

4 stalks of celery – roughly chopped

4 bay leaves

1/2 bunch of thyme

2 litres chicken stock

2 garlic cloves finely sliced

1 tbs olive oil

Fresh parsley for garnish

Parmesan Stars

Fresh bread

Olive oil

Parmesan cheese – grated or shaved

Star shaped cookie cutter

Method

Wash the split peas & remove any discoloured grains
Heat oil in large saucepan
Sweat onion & celery over medium heat for 10 minutes or until softened.
Add garlic & cook for a further 3 minutes
Add hock, split peas, thyme & stock & bring to the boil then let simmer for 1.5 hours until thickened stirring occasionally
Remove hock, let cool, remove skin, dice all of the ham and set aside
Blend/puree a section of the soup (a little Jamie Oliver technique I picked up). This helps to thicken the soup, but also gives you all of those lubbly jubbly chunks
Add your chopped ham (optional: save some of the ham for garnish)

Parmesan Stars

1. Using your cookie cutter, cut out as many star shapes as you will need from your bread.

2. Drizzle over olive oil

3. Sprinkle over the parmesan

4. Put onto a tray lined with baking paper & grill until golden

Add your soup to bowls, sprinkle over some ham & parsley & add your parmesan stars! YUMMY!

Note: This meal is fantastic in the freezer and will last for 3 months! I divide servings into snap lock bags & write on the date.

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