Pea Soup

Ingredients

• •2 cups dried white pea beans
• •2 tablespoons butter
• •1/2 cup chopped onion
• •1/4 cup chopped leek, white part only
• •1/4 cup smoked ham, plus ham bone
• •1/2 pound salt pork
• •1 garlic clove
• •8 cups cold water
• •2 tablespoons fresh or salted herbs, rinsed in cold water

Directions

1. 1Soak peas for at least 8 hours or overnight in water to cover; drain.
2. 2Heat butter in a large heavy hot and sauté onion and leek just until tender.
3. 3Add peas, ham, salt pork (in one piece), garlic, water and salted herbs.
4. 4Bring quickly to a boil, lower heat, partly cover, and cook gently for 2 to 3 hours or until peas are tender.
5. 5Stir occasionally during cooking, adding more water if necessary. Remove salt pork, cut in small pieces, then return to soup.