Uncle Bills Indian Split Pea Soup Recipes

UNCLE BILL'S GREEN SPLIT PEA WITH HAMBONE SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse peas well in cold water and add to a large cooking pot.
• Measure 8 cups of water and add to cooking pot.
• Bring to boil, remove from heat, cover and let sit for 1 hour.
• Return to stove and bring back to boil.
• Add ham bone, carrots, onions, celery, bay leaf, beef bouillon, salt, peppercorns and dried thyme.
• Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Remove ham bone and cut off any remaining ham, cut into bite size pieces and return to soup.
• Discard ham bone.
• If there are big pieces of ham in the soup, remove, cut into bite size pieces and return to soup.
• Remove bay leaf and discard.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• If you desire a smooth soup, then puree' in batches in a food processor or blender.
• Or eat the soup without puree'ing.
• If soup is too thick, add more water to your desired consistency.
• Beef broth or chicken broth may be added, just reduce the water by the amounts used.
• Smoked ham hocks are excellent to use instead of a ham bone.
• If there is not enough ham on the ham bone, then add additional ham of your choice.
• You may also use about 1/4 teaspoon of Liquid Hickory Smoke, to get a smokey flavor.
• You may also use whole peas, but it will take a bit longer to cook these peas so that they are tender.

INDIAN SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH SEARED SHRIMP AND FRESH TOMATO RELISH

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss the shrimp with the cumin, cardamom, garlic, coriander, cinnamon, clove, salt and cayenne pepper. Marinate refrigerated for one hour. For the soup: In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic ginger root and jalapeno. Saute for two minutes, stirring. Add the split peas, coriander, cumin, celery seed, cinnamon and clove. Mix well. Add the chicken stock, stir again, and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer slowly, partially covered, for about one hour, or until split peas are just soft. You may need to add more chicken stock if the peas become too thick and dry.
• While the soup is cooking, prepare the relish, toss all six ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste. When the soup is ready, butterfly the marinated shrimp, removing the veins. Place in a heavy saute pan over medium high heat. Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil, swirling around the pan. Add the shrimp, cut side down, and saute for 2-3 minutes, or until just cooked. Turn the shrimp over, and cook the spiced side for 1 minute. Remove from pan. With a wooden spoon, crush a few of the soft peas in the soup against the side of the pot. Stir well. If the soup looks too thick, add a little chicken stock. Season to taste. Ladle hot soup into four wide soup bowls. Mix in most of the tomato relish, saving about 1/4 cup. Place three shrimp in the center of each bowl. Divide the remaining tomato relish among four bowls, placing it in the center of the shrimp. Top that with a few fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
• Recommended Wine: Scharffenberger Brut

UNCLE BILL'S INDIAN SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot, add 10 cups of water and bring to boil.
• Add ham bone, bay leaves, peppercorns, whole cloves, cinnamon stick, celery including leaves, green and yellow split peas and red lentils.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 3 hours.
• Remove from heat and let completely cool until fat gels on the top.
• Carefully skim all fat and discard.
• Remove ham bone and large ham pieces that fall off the bone and set aside.
• Leave small pieces of ham in cooking pot.
• Remove sack of cloves and cinnamon stick and discard.
• In a frying pan, heat olive oil.
• Add onion and garlic and saute' until onions are translucent.
• Transfer cooked onions to cooking pot.
• Add 8 cups of water, curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, red hot pepper flakes, salt, carrots, and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1/2 hour.
• Puree' soup in batches in a food processor or blender and return to cooking pot.
• Chop ham pieces into bite size pieces and add to cooking pot.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Bring soup back to boil.
• If you prefer a spicier soup, add more red hot pepper flakes or some cayenne pepper.
• Serve soup hot.

ENGLISH PUB SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Place ham bone in a 4-qt. slow cooker. Add peas, celery, carrot and onion. Combine water, beer and mustard; pour over vegetables. Cook, covered, on high 5-6 hours or until peas are tender., Remove ham bone from soup. Cool slightly, trim away fat and remove meat from bone; discard fat and bone. Cut meat into bite-sized pieces; return to slow cooker. Stir in remaining ingredients. If desired, top with additional minced parsley.