Pelēkie Zirņi

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried grey peas (or brown/green split peas as a substitute)
• 6 cups water
• 200g smoked bacon, diced
• 1 large onion, diced
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Dark rye bread, to serve

Before you cook

• Soak the grey peas in plenty of water overnight.
• Drain and rinse the soaked peas.

Steps

1. Put the drained peas into a pot with the 6 cups of fresh water.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, topping up water as needed, until the peas are completely soft.
3. Drain off most of the excess liquid, leaving the peas slightly moist, and lightly mash some of them with a spoon.
4. While the peas finish cooking, fry the diced bacon in a skillet over medium heat for 6 minutes until crisp and the fat has rendered.
5. Add the onion to the bacon fat and fry for 6 minutes until deeply golden brown.
6. Stir the bacon and onion through the mashed peas.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Simmer everything together for 5 minutes so the flavors combine.
9. Serve hot with dark rye bread on the side.