SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH BACON RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium heat, cook bacon until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer bacon to a plate and keep the fat in the pot. Add carrots and thyme and cook until golden and tender, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add onion, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, coriander, nutmeg, and paprika and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Add split peas, 5 cups broth, and ham bone and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until peas fall apart, about 45 minutes.
• When peas are tender, remove from heat, and remove ham bone. Stir in remaining broth and use an immersion blender to purée soup, if desired. Return pot to medium heat, stir in cooked carrots and ham, and simmer until warmed through.
• Top with cooked bacon before serving.

Steps:

• Combine the peas, hocks, carrots, celery and onions in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Tie the parsley, thyme and bay leaf together with kitchen string. Add the herb bundle, stock and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer; cover and cook until the peas are tender, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove the pot from the heat, and remove the hocks to a bowl to cool. Remove the meat from the hocks, discarding the bones, fat and skin. Cut the meat into cubes. Remove the herb bundle from the soup and discard.
• Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in batches in a blender to desired consistency. Heat the soup to a simmer with the meat and season with salt and pepper. Serve in heated bowls. Serve with the Simple Salad.
• Although the salad is prewashed, still give it a soak in a big bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes. Lift the salad out of the water, so any grit is left in the bowl. Put it in a salad spinner; don't pack it in or the greens will get bruised. Spin dry. If you don't have a spinner, lay on a clean towel and gently pat dry.
• Put the greens in a big bowl. Drizzle 3 tablespoons (a regular soup spoon is fine ¿ you don't need the measuring type) of olive oil over the greens. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon vinegar. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using tongs or 2 forks, toss just enough so that all the greens are lightly dressed. Transfer to 4 salad plates and serve immediately.