Recipes

German Split Pea Soup

  • Serves

    serves 4-6

THOMAS PAYNE

This recipe is based on one that appears in German Home Cooking by Dr. August Oetker (Bielefeld, 1963). The addition of a little flour gives the soup a smooth texture, while celery root adds an earthy note.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 slices bacon, finely chopped
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 1 rib celery, finely chopped
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 small celery root, peeled and finely chopped
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 2 tbsp. flour
  • 10 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
  • 8 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 lb. green split peas, rinsed and drained
  • 2 large smoked ham hocks (about 2 lbs. total)
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1

Place oil and bacon in a 6-qt. pot and cook over medium-high heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add onions, celery, carrots, and celery root, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour; cook for 3 minutes.

Step 2

Tie parsley, thyme, and bay leaves together with kitchen twine; add to pot with peas, ham hocks, and 7 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until peas are very tender, about 1 hour. Remove from heat. Discard herbs. Transfer hocks to a plate to let cool; pull off and chop the meat; discard fat, skin, and bones. Stir meat into soup, season with salt and pepper, and ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with reserved bacon.

Step 3

This recipe is based on one that appears in German Home Cooking by Dr. August Oetker (Bielefeld, 1963). The addition of a little flour gives the soup a smooth texture, while celery root adds an earthy note.

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