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London particular
Split pea and ham soup
Thick split pea and ham soup named after the old London fogs
London particular is a thick, yellow-green soup of split peas and smoked pork ham hock, named after the pea-souper smogs that once smothered the city. It was a cheap winter warmer in Victorian London eating houses and is still on menus in pubs and cafés when the weather turns. The hock gives a deep smoky saltiness and shreds of soft meat. Chef's tip: skim the grey foam off as the water first boils, for a cleaner taste.
- Total time
- 135 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 smoked pork ham hockabout 1 kg, soaked overnight if very salty
- 14 oz dried green or yellow split peasrinsed
- 1 onionchopped
- 2 carrotchopped
- 2 celery stickschopped
- 3 sprigs thyme
- 8 ¼ cups water
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp parsley (optional)chopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put the 1 smoked pork ham hock in a large pot with the 8 ¼ cups water, bring to the boil and skim off the foam.
10 minStep 2: Add the 14 oz dried green or yellow split peas, 1 onion, 2 carrot, 2 celery sticks, 2 bay leaves and 3 sprigs thyme. Simmer gently, half covered, for 1½–2 hours, until the peas collapse and the meat falls off the bone. Stir now and then so the peas don't stick.
110 minStep 3: Lift out the hock, pull the meat into shreds and throw away the skin, fat and bone. Fish out the bay and thyme.
10 minStep 4: Blend the soup until smooth, adding hot water if it is thicker than porridge. Stir the meat back in and season with ½ tsp black pepper. A common mistake is salting before tasting; the hock is already salty.
5 minStep 5: Serve hot, scattered with 2 tbsp parsley, with buttered bread.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 14 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does london particular take?
- About 135 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 120 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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