Split Pea Soup With Ham

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb good quality bacon, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups diced yellow onions
• 4 grated carrots
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 lb dried split peas, picked over and rinsed
• 1 ham steak, cut into 1/2 inch squares

• 3 (14 ounce) cans low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup half-and-half
• frank's hot sauce

Directions

1. 1

   Fry the bacon in your soup pot and reserve for garnish.

2. 2

   Add the olive oil to the rendered bacon fat.

3. 3

   Add chopped onions and carrots. Cook & stir for 10-15 minutes.

4. 4

   Push to one side of the pot to make a hot spot.

5. 5

   Drop the red pepper flakes and garlic into the spot.

6. 6

   Cook the garlic/pepper a minute in that spot.until golden.

7. 7

   Add the bay leaf, split peas, ham, broth, water and bring to a boil.

8. 8

   Cover the soup and let it simmer for 90 minutes.

9. 9

   Remove the bay leaf and add the half and half.

10. 10

    The peas, onions and carrots should cooked enough to make the soup thick and vegetables indistinct, if not - use a hand blender -- but you'll lose the lovely ham cubes if you're too vigorous.

11. 11

    Serve with hot sauce dribbled on top.