London Particular Recipes

LONDON PARTICULAR: HAM AND PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse the soaked peas until the water runs clear, I find it easier to do this in a sieve over the sink. Set the peas to one side.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan and sweat the onions until they are soft. Add the soaked and rinsed peas and the stock; bring to the boil before reducing the heat so the soup is just gently simmering. Simmer until the peas are very soft, this will take between 30-45 minutes. (Depending on how old the dried peas are - the older they are, the longer it will take for them to cook)
• Blend the soup in a blender (or with an immersion blender) until smooth - do this in batches if necessary, and add a little more stock if it's too thick. Season to taste with pepper, be careful of adding extra salt if you have used ham stock which will be salty already.
• Return the blended soup to the saucepan, add some of the ham or bacon and bring the soup back up to a gentle simmer, do not allow it to boil. Serve in warmed bowls with chopped lovage or celery leaves scattered over the top. (This adds a lovely savoury and "fresh" favour to the soup)

MRS. PATMORE'S LONDON PARTICULAR

Steps:

• 1. Rinse, then drain, soaked ham hock. Place ham hock, large onion, celery, peppercorns, bay leaf, and thyme in a large saucepan. Cover with water. Bring to a boil, then simmer, partially covered, for 2 1/2 hours or until tender. Cool.
• 2. Strain ham stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a Tupperware or glass bowl with lid. Reserve the stock, and shred ham into bite-sized pieces. If stock is too spicy, distill with some water.
• 3. Rinse soaked peas until water runs clear.
• 4. In a large saucepan or pot over medium-low heat, melt butter. Sauté the onion until it is soft and translucent. Add carrot, peas, and the stock. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, and skim off any fat floating at the top.
• 5. Simmer until the peas are very soft, about 45 minutes. Purée soup in small batches using an immersion or regular blender. If too thick, add more stock. Return soup to saucepan, add leftover ham, then heat through. Serve in warm bowls, perhaps with chopped celery sprinkled on top.

LONDON PARTICULAR SOUP (PEA & HAM SOUP)

Steps:

• Melt butter and add bacon, onion, carrot and celery. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the vegetables have begun to soften.
• Add the peas and the stock. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 1 hour, until the peas are cooked. Place in a blender to liquify (use caution with hot soup). Return to the pot and add the yogurt; gently reheat without boiling.
• Serve garnished with crispy, crumbled bacon and croutons if you like.