Green Pea Soup ( With Dried Peas)

Basic Green pea soup with dried split peas and a ham or bacon knuckle for flavouring. You may put in a piece of bacon instead. This is from 'Practical Cookery'

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 5 liters

Ingredients

• 500  g  split peas (soaked overnight)
• 4  liters water
• 150  g carrots
• 2  medium onions
• 125  g  ham knuckle or 125  g bacon
•  thyme
•  bay leaf
•  salt and pepper

• Croutons

•  stale bread (cubed)
• 3  tablespoons  oil
• 1  teaspoon thyme
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Place the soaked peas in a pan, cover with the water, bring to the boil .
2. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer until the peas are tender.
3. remove the ham hock, bayleaf and carrot and liquidise.
4. Correct seasoning.
5. Croutons:
6. Toss the cubed bread with the remaining ingredients in a frying pan until they get lightly browned.