German Pea Soup Food

GERMAN LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Place lentils in a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker. Add chicken stock, bay leaf, carrots, celery, onion, and ham. Season with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, nutmeg, hot pepper sauce, caraway seed, celery salt, parsley, and pepper.
• Cover, and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours. Remove bay leaf before serving.

SPLIT PEA AND SAUSAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Drain the soaked peas and rinse in cold water. Set aside. Fry the bacon in a large saucepan for a few minutes over medium heat until the fat starts to run, then stir in the onion and potato. Continue to fry for 5 minutes until softened.
• Add the peas, broth, herbs and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil, stirring once or twice, and allow to boil for 5 minutes. Then partially cover the pan and turn the heat down to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Cook for 30 to 40 minutes until thickened and the peas are soft. If you like you can blend the soup in a food processor or blender, but it looks more wholesome with a rustic chunkiness. Prepare the Frankfurters according to instructions on the packaging. Check the seasoning and add salt if required. If you have used ham stock you may not need it. Sprinkle with a little chopped fresh parsley or chervil if desired and garnish with the Frankfurters.

MRS. SCHREINER'S SPLIT-PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large heavy kettle cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp and transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Pour off all but about 1/4 cup bacon fat from kettle and cook onions and carrots, stirring, until softened. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally and adding 1 to 2 cups more water if soup becomes too thick, 2 hours.
• Remove kettle from heat and transfer ham hock with a slotted spoon to a cutting board. Discard fat and bones and chop meat. Return meat to kettle and simmer soup, stirring, until heated through. Discard bay leaf.
• Just before serving, crumble bacon and sprinkle over soup.

GERMAN SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.

GERMAN PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Wash split peas in water.
• Soak overnight in water to cover.
• Drain the next morning.
• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven.
• Saute onion and celery until soft.
• Add chopped garlic, thyme, marjoram, and sage.
• Stir and cook for another minute.
• Add ham hock, beef broth, split peas, and carrots.
• Cover pot and bring to a boil.
• Adjust heat until you can maintain a slow simmer.
• After the soup is the consistency you like (I like my peas completely dissolved), remove ham hock.
• Allow to cool somewhat.
• Discard fat and bones.
• Slice meat and return to pot.
• Season to taste.