Pea & Ham Soup

Ingredients:

500g green split peas

1 litre vegetable stock

1 litre water

salt & pepper

cup frozen peas

1 x smoked ham bone

1/2 tsp dried mint

bunch thyme tied with a thin elastic band or string.

juice one lemon

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, grated

NB: no need to soak split peas first.

1. Wash and rinse green split peas a few times till water runs almost clear.

2. Cook onion gently in olive oil in a large pot till soft. Add garlic and stir through.

3. Add split peas to pan and add stock and water. Add ham bone, thyme and black pepper.

4. Bring to boil, then turn down to a simmer. Cook for about 2 hours till ham is soft and able to removed easily from the bone. Stir occasionally to stop lentils sticking to bottom of pan.

5. Remove the thyme. Take ham bone out and cut the meat off, discarding any fat or skin, and add back to pan.

6. Add peas, lemon juice, mint and salt to pan.

7. Heat and serve. Top with some crispy prosciutto or bacon.

8. NB: the soup will thicken when it cools down - make need watering down a bit when you reheat it.