Split Pea Soup With Pancetta

Submitted by mary winecoff

"Pancetta is an Italian bacon. This also adds fresh spinach. This recipe is from"Turn Up the Heat" by Garvin"

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 13

ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 8 ounces pancetta, diced small
• 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon shallot, chopped
• 1 medium onion, diced small
• 3 stalks celery, diced small
• 2 carrots, diced small
• 1 (16 ounce) bag dried split peas, sorted and rinsed
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon thyme, fresh and chopped
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons black pepper
• 4 -6 ounces fresh spinach

directions

1. In a stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook out all the fat. Add garlic and shallot, saute until tender. Add onion, celery and carrot, saute until tender.
2. Stir in split peas; combine well. Add chicken stock, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until peas are soft and are falling apart. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
3. Place a few ladles of soup into a blender and add a couple handfuls of spinach. Blend until spinach is incorporated. Place soup in a second pot. Repeat with remaining soup and spinach. Warm soup over very low heat.

Reviews

[Outta Here]

Loved the pancetta in this soup. All the flavor of ham or bacon without all the salt. And the addition of spinach is a nice touch. I only pureed half of the soup with the spinach, because I wanted some of the vegies and pancetta pieces left for texture. Will be making this again! Made for Fall 2008 PAC.

 

[bluehoney50]

I made this soup today. It is one of the simplest and best soups I've ever made. Has a little bit of sweetness from the thyme and a little bit salty from the pancetta - but neither take over the soup. You don't know what's in it. It's just delicious. I paired it with my homemade garlic/shallot/parmesean croutons. OMG! So yummy. I'm not sharing!!

 

[Shannon M.]

It's too salty! I should not have put the 1 tablespoon of salt. I spent good stock and time on this recipe.

 

[natalia.lati]

Great recipe! Perfect amount of everything. Pancetta is a great idea for a split pea soup.