Crock Pot Vegetarian Split Pea Cauliflower Soup With Optional Ham Add In Recipes

Steps:

• In a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until peas are tender.Freeze Option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Heat through in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Steps:

• In a saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, onion, and celery. Cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook one more minute. Add to 4.5-quart or larger Crock Pot along with cauliflower, split peas, vegetable broth, cumin, sage, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bay leaf.
• Cook on low for 8 hours, or until split peas are completely soft.
• Taste and add additional salt and pepper if needed.
• If adding ham, remove about 1 1/2 cups per serving to a saucepan and stir in 1/4 cup diced ham. Heat together for about 10 minutes.
• Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of smoked paprika. Top carnivorous servings with additional chopped ham if desired.

Steps:

• If using bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel. Once cool, crumble and set aside for garnish. If using ham hock: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then brown the ham hock until golden, about 6 minutes. If making the soup vegetarian: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil.
• Add the onion, leeks and garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. (If the vegetables seem dry, add a little olive oil.) Stir in the carrots, paprika (if using), half the split peas, thyme and 8 cups stock or water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes until peas are tender.
• Mash the soup coarsely with a potato masher or give it a few quick blitzes with an immersion blender (watch out for the thyme sprigs). If you'd prefer a smoother soup, blitz until nearly smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 pound split peas and simmer about 1 hour, or until the peas are soft. If at any point the soup looks too thick, add more stock or water; if it looks too thin, remove the lid during the second simmer until it thickens. If using ham hocks, remove any meat from the bone, cut it into small cubes and stir into the soup. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with crumbled bacon, if using, and lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Layer ingredients in order listed above. Do not stir
• Cover and cook until peas are soft High: 4-5 hours or Low: 8-10 hours
• Remove bay leaf and garlic (if it has held together) before serving.