Download - What's cooking in Belgium: Pea & Ham Soup
30 What’s Cooking in Belgium traVeLS around waLLonia
Pea & ham SOuP
Fryaroughlychoppedonion,2sticksofceleryandasmallleekinasplashofoilfor10minutes.Transfertoasaucepanandaddthepeas,2peeledpotatoes,1½litresofwaterandtheporkmeat.Itisbestnottocutthemeatupasitwillneedtoberetrievedfromthepotaftercooking.Smokedmeatswillgivearougher,earthiertastetothedish.
Simmerwiththelidonoveralowheatforanhour.Stirandskimthefrothoffthesurfaceoccasionally.
Whencooked,removethemeatanduseablendertoturntheliquidandvegetablesintoasmoothsoup.Ifitistoothickthenitcanbethinnedwithacupofmilk.Returntoalowheatwhilstyouchopuptheporkintosmallpiecesandaddthembacktothesoup.Besurenottoletthesoupboilasthiswillspoilthedish’svibrantcolouranddelicateflavour.
servewithcroutonsandcrustybrownbread.
thissoupwastraditionallycookedwiththeboneanddry,toughoffcutsofanardennesham,
andfreshpeaswereusedinthesummeranddriedpeasoutofseason.ifyouusedriedpeas,
soak150gofwholeorsplitpeasin1½litresofwaterovernight,andusethisflavour-rich
watertomakethesoup.
4servings
1largesaucepan
1bowl
1blender
preparation:30minutes
Cooking:60minutes
300gfreshorfrozenpeas
1smallonion
2sticksofcelery
1smallleek
2potatoes
250gporkbelly,knuckle
orchunkofdriedham
asplashofoil
1½litreswater
optional:
250mlmilk