On this chilly day, we craved split pea soup but did not want an 8-hour slow cooker project. We tried this SkinnyTaste recipe, which took about 2 hours: https://www.skinnytaste.com/split-peas-soup-with-ham-2-points/ Although we normally prefer yellow pea’s mellower flavor, we used split green peas for this recipe.
Our modifications: first, we used 2 smoked turkey tails in lieu of ham hock. Second, based on other split pea recipes, we enhanced the oil, vegetables, and aromatics. We added 1 Tbsp unsalted butter to the olive oil. In addition to diced carrot, we added 2 celery stalks (diced). For the aromatics, we added a few sprigs thyme (leaves only) and 1 large bay leaf. Third, we used 8 cups unsalted chicken broth and later added an additional 1/2 cup of broth (Better Than Bouillon chicken, which contains salt) mainly to ensure the turkey tails would cook evenly. At the end of cooking, we removed the turkey tails from the soup, removed meat (there wasn’t much), discarded bone, and returned meat to the pot. We also seasoned with salt and black pepper.
This was tasty, but the end result was a thinner soup than expected. The next time, we may start with 6 or 7 cups of broth. (Jan. 2023)
Cooking Adventures 