On 27/09/2011 10:31 AM, Chet wrote:
> I have made split pea soup a few times, but cannot get the nice flavor
> that when I get it at the restaurants, not sure what I am missing in my
> recipe.
>
> this is my recipe in a crock pot
> 2 qts water
> 1 lb dried split peas
> 2 carrots chopped
> 2 stalks celery chopped
> 1 onion sliced
> some salt & pepper
> 1 small ham hock
> 1 bay leaf
>
> after 8hrs I remove the ham hock and take the meat off the bone, then I
> use a stick blender, let it cool and scoop off the layer of fat on the
> top of the soup and add the ham pcs it's not bad, but there is a smokey
> flavor missing.

That is similar to the way I make it, except that I use less carrot and
more ham hock. I have tried it in the past with ham and ham bones, but
a nice smokey ham hock made a big difference.