Pea and Ham Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp oil or 50g butter
• 2 onions, finely diced
• 3 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled and sliced
• 2 tsp Thyme
• 1 tsp Chilli Flakes
• 1 tsp Oregano Leaves
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 300 g green split peas
• 1 1/2 - 2 L chicken stock
• 1 cup peas, frozen
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Method

1. Heat oil or butter in a large pot and fry onion for 3-4 minutes, add in garlic, thyme, chili and oregano then stir for a further 2 minutes.
2. Add in the ham hock and split peas with the stock and bring to the boil, turn down heat to low and let the soup gently simmer for 1 ½ hours. Take the hock out of the pot and shred the meat. Place the frozen peas into the soup for 5 minutes and then blend the soup until smooth.
3. Add in the shredded ham and heat five minutes before serving, and finish with parsley.
4. For a creamy soup add 2 tsp of cream to each bowl of soup.