Lickety-split Pea Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 medium peeled onion, chopped
• 1 large peeled carrot, finely chopped
• 8 cups vegetable broth or 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 lb dried split peas
• 1 cup diced celery
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon crushed dried mint
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 large bay leaf
• kosher salt, to taste
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
• 4 -8 ounces chopped cooked ham (optional) or 4 -8 ounces cooked bacon (optional)

Recipe

• 1 add split peas to 8 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth) in a soup pot; bring to boiling at high heat. cover; boil for 15 minutes on high heat, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to medium-low.
• 2 peel and divide one medium onion into quarters; place onion quarters into the large bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely chopped; add onion to soup.
• 3 into the bowl of a large food processor while running, add one peeled large carrot; process just until finely chopped; add carrot to soup.
• 4 dice celery to yield 1 cup; add celery to soup; finely chop and add 4-8 ounces cooked ham if desired (use food processor), or add 4-8 ounces chopped cooked bacon, if desired).
• 5 add the remaining soup ingredients except lime juice (2 teaspoons granulated sugar, 1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme, 1 teaspoon crushed dried mint, 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 large bay leaf); stir well; cover.
• 6 simmer soup for 45 minutes on medium-low, or until tender; remove bay leaf and stir well.
• 7 stir in lime juice and heat through (if not serving right away, keep soup covered and reduce heat to lowest setting, stirring as needed).
• 8 season to taste with kosher salt.
• 9 pour into bowls; garnish as desired or top with a few croutons if desired.
• 10 use your fingers to eat soup, or slurp soup directly from the bowl (kidding!); enjoy!