Award Winning Split Pea Soup with Gouda Crostini
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Inspired by McCall's Cooking School.
Author:
Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8
Ingredients
Split Pea Soup
  • 2 ½ quarts low-sodium or unsalted chicken stock
  • 4 carrots, cut in half
  • 1 lb dried split green peas, rinsed and drained
  • 1½ lb smoked ham shanks (or ham hocks)
  • ¼ lb salt pork, cubed
  • 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
  • 2 medium onions, halved and sliced thinly
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • 2 sprigs parsley, chopped
  • ¼ tsp dried rosemary
  • ¼ tsp ground pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¾ cup shredded gouda
  • 1 cup frozen petite peas, thawed (optional)
Gouda Crostini
  • 1 sourdough baguette
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup shredded gouda
Instructions
  1. In a large stockpot, bring chicken stock to a boil and add carrots, split peas and ham shanks. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes, covered. Remove and discard carrots.
  2. While peas are simmering, in a large skillet, sauté salt pork until crisp. Add celery, onion, and green onion, cooking until onion is golden.
  3. To the peas and shanks, add the sautéed salt pork mixture, parsley, rosemary, pepper, and bay leaf. Mix well. Bring back to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours, covered. Remove from heat.
  4. Remove shanks from pot and cool. Chop meat, and add meat to pot along with the ¾ cup gouda and petite peas, if using. If soup seems too thick at this point, stir in a little water. Bring back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for another 30 minutes, covered.
  5. While soup is finishing, make the crostini.
  6. Preheat your oven to broil. Slice baguette into ½ inch slices on the diagonal. Arrange bread slices on a non-stick baking sheet and broil until they just start to turn golden. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes.
  7. Rub garlic on browned side and turn over. Place enough gouda on untoasted side to cover – about 1-2 teaspoons. Return to broiler and cook until cheese is bubbly and golden. Set aside.
  8. Serve soup immediately with crostini as a garnish.
Recipe by Webicurean at http://blog.webicurean.com/2012/09/30/award-winning-split-pea-soup-with-gouda-crostini/