Split pea soup was one of my favorite soups before I started this WOE. A couple of years ago I saw a recipe for a faux split pea soup on Linda Sue's website. Then earlier this year Nita posted her version Faux Split Pea Soup and I thought that someday I might try it. However, since smoked turkey is something that I never buy and DW and I don't eat enough ham to justify getting a portion with a bone, I figured I would have to pass on the soup. However, last week I liberated a ham bone following a department luncheon at work and decided to make my version of l/c "split pea" soup. Here is my recipe:

9 cups water
1 ham bone
1 medium onion, quartered
5 interior stalks of celery w/leaves
1 tsp black pepper
1 medium head cauliflower
1 pound frozen green beans
1 tsp xanthan gum

Place the first 5 ingredients in a large pot, bring to a boil. reduce heat, cover and simmer for 90 minutes. Remove the bone and strip any remaining ham and reserve for later. Trim and cut-up the cauliflower. (mine weighed 21 ozs trimmed). Put the cauliflower in the broth and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the green beans and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Remove all of the cooked veggies (onion, celery, cauliflower, and green beans) and place in a large blender with the reserved ham and a little broth and puree until smooth. Return the pureed mixture to the broth and stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper seasoning to taste. While continuing cooking, add 1 tsp xanthan gum and incorporate into the soup. (I used an imersion blender for this step. The xanthan gum thickens the soup nicely and helps it maintain a colloidal suspension so the pureed solids won't separate.) Cook for 5 minutes.

I am absolutely amazed at how this soup has the texture and tastes exactly like the split pea soup I remember from 5 years ago, before I started this WOE. I will be making this again. When I reheat it, I add a couple of tablespoons of cream to thin the soup down a little, like I had to do with the real thing, only this time I get to use real cream and not low fat milk.

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Henry

Sounds great, Henry!

Thanks for sharing.

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When you have your soup (and it is excellent, isn't it?), try a dollop of sour cream on top. It really makes it good, and looks pretty to serve, too.

Now I need to find a ham bone.....

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Nita

This sounds delicious!

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Linda

It needs salt
- Also if you let it cool after you've made it, the texture will get more split pea-like

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Sven

A new beginning:
1/5/09
262/252/200

The Old Journey (you can do it too!)
Start Date: 1/1/06
305/218/200


Welcome to low-carb eating.
The food's not bad here.