Hernekeitto Recipes

HERNEKEITTO (FINNISH SPLIT-PEA SOUP)

Steps:

• Form a spice bag by wrapping allspice in cheesecloth and tying with a string, or placing allspice in a stainless steal tea ball.
• In a soup kettle saucepan, combine water, peas, ham or pork hocks and allspice; bring to a boil, cover and simmer 1 hour.
• Add potatoes, carrots, onion, salt and pepper, return to boiling.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Remove spice bag.
• If using pork hocks, remove and cool slightly.
• When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones and coarsely chop.
• Return meat to soup, discard bones.

FINNISH DRIED PEA SOUP (HERNEKEITTO - FINLAND)

Steps:

• Rinse and remove unwanted pieces from the peas. Cover with cold water and let soak overnight.
• Afterwards, drain and rinse the peas. Peel the onion and stud it with the cloves. Put everything into the pot with the peas. (Use fresh water for the 8 cups, not the soaking water.).
• Bring to a boil; cover, lower heat, and let simmer until they are very soft, about 2 hours, stirring often.
• Remove meat from soup. Trim it from the bones, cutting into small pieces. Return it to the soup.
• Salt to taste and serve. (I must add, however, that the listed amount of salt could be too much for some people, let alone adding more at this point. However, I've included the amounts listed by the author because she says that Finnish food is very salty. Use your own judgement.).

ROASTED GAME HENS STUFFED UNDER THE SKIN WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the ricotta in a fine sieve and drain for 30 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the drained ricotta, Parmesan, egg yolk, herbs, and lemon zest. Put the garlic cloves through a garlic press and add to the mixture. Combine well, adding the salt and pepper to taste.
• Rinse the game hens and pat them dry. Season the cavities with salt and pepper and place a lemon quarter and an onion quarter in each cavity.
• Loosen the skin on the breasts by sliding your fingers under the skin, being careful not to pierce it. Spoon the ricotta mixture under the skin (about 4 tablespoons of stuffing per bird). Truss the birds.
• Place the birds, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan. Pour the white wine into the pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until the juices run clear when the hen is pierced in the thickest part of the thigh. Remove from the oven, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest 10 minutes. Discard the trussing string and serve with the pan juices spooned over the hens.

HERNEKEITTO

Steps:

• This Finnish pea soup can be made well in advance.
• You can double or triple the recipe and freeze it in useful quantities.
• Malla Karhusaari also suggests reducing the cooking time by using a pressure cooker or microwave to prepare it.
• Rinse peas and soak in cold water in large port for 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring peas and soaking water to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for one hour or until peas begin to soften.
• Add pork and continue to simmer for two to three hours, until peas and meat ar thoroughly cooked.
• When meat is tender, remove it from pot, discard skin and bone, cut meat in cubes and return to soup.
• You may need to add more water to pot for desired consistency.
• Season with marjoram, mustard, salt and pepper.
• Heat to blend flavors and serve hot.