Soupe aux Pois

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried yellow split peas, rinsed
• 8 cups water
• 1/2 lb salt pork, cubed
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp dried savory or thyme
• black pepper, to taste

Before you cook

• Rinse the split peas.
• Dice the salt pork into small cubes.
• Dice the onion, carrots, and celery.

Steps

1. Blanch the diced salt pork in a small pot of boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain it.
2. Combine the split peas, water, blanched salt pork, onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaf in a large pot.
3. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat.
4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the peas have fully broken down, about 2 hours.
5. Add more water during cooking if the soup gets too thick.
6. Remove the bay leaf.
7. Stir in the savory or thyme.
8. Season with black pepper and only as much salt as the soup still needs.
9. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.