Yellow Pea Soup Recipe
- 2 cups dried whole yellow peas or yellow split peas, picked over
- 8 leeks (white parts only), chopped coarse, washed well, and drained
- 12 cups water
- 1 smoked ham hock
- 2 thyme sprigs or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 pound celery root
- 4 carrots, quartered lengthwise and sliced thin
- In a large bowl soak peas overnight in enough cold water to cover by 2 inches and drain.
- In a 7 1/2-quart heavy kettle combine leeks, water, peas, ham hock, and thyme and simmer mixture, uncovered, until peas are very tender, about 30 minutes.
- In a blender puree 4 cups soup in batches and return to kettle.
- Peel celery root and cut into 1/4-inch dice. Add celery root to soup and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Add carrots and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Remove meat from ham hock and discard skin and bones. Chop meat coarse and stir into soup with salt and pepper to taste. Soup may be made 3 days in advance. Cool soup uncovered and keep covered and chilled. Thin soup with water if too thick.