Habitant Pea Soup Recipes

CANADIAN (HABITANT) YELLOW PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Place peas in a soup pot, cover with the cold water and soak overnight. Next morning add the chopped vegetables, ham bone and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover and simmer gently for 3 to 4 hours. Stir mixture occasionally and add a little boiling water to keep soup at the right consistency. Remove the ham bone and add seasonings. Amount of salt will depend on the saltiness of ham bone.
• Note: If soup is served at once, it will need no binding. If to be chilled and set aside for later, add 2 tablespoons each, well creamed butter and flour, smoothed together and stirred into the simmering soup 10 to 15 minutes before removing from heat.

CANADIAN YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH HAM

Steps:

• Place split peas, ham bone, carrots, onion, celery, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper into a large pot; pour in water. Bring mixture to a boil and skim off any foam with a spoon. Reduce heat; place a lid on the pot slightly ajar to allow some evaporation. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender and soup is thick, about 3 hours.
• Remove ham bone from soup; strip meat from ham bone, chop meat, and return it to the pot.

CANADIAN HABITANT SOUP

Steps:

• Place split peas, carrots, celery, leeks, onion, garlic, bacon, thyme, parsley and stock to cover in a large pot. Put lid on, bring to the boil and simmer rapidly for about 1 hour, or until the peas are very tender.
• Blend the soup and season to taste. Serve sprinkled with a little pepper with warm crusty rolls.
• Chef's Notes: Terrill has commented in her review that split peas do not need to be soaked. From my experience of using split peas, I would agree: I have never soaked split peas before, but that's what Huey specified in his recipe, and that bit I retained, though I have modified the recipe in other ways. Some people always salt eggplant before using it; others don't etc. etc.! So if you are making this recipe, feel free to decide on this point for yourself!