what's cooking in belgium: pea & ham soup
DESCRIPTION
Full recipe download from the book "What's cooking in Belgium"; recipes and stories from a food-loving nation by Neil Evans & Anna Jenkinson. Photography by Diane Hendrikx. Food Styling by Hilde OeyenTRANSCRIPT
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