Swedish Yellow Pea Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse the peas in a colander under cool running water. Put them in a large, nonreactive bowl and cover with water by 2 inches. Let soak uncovered in a cool place overnight.
• Put the peas and soaking water into a heavy 6-to-8-quart pot. Add water to cover again by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and let boil two minutes. Skim off and discard any foam and skins that rise to the top.
• Stir in the chopped onion. Cut the piece of bacon crosswise into two pieces, and add to the pot with 3 tablespoons fresh marjoram or thyme leaves, stripped of stems and chopped.
• Let the soup boil gently for 40 to 90 minutes until it becomes very thick and buttery yellow. Whole peas will take longer and will be soft but still whole when cooked. Split peas will take a shorter time to cook and will almost disintegrate. If the soup becomes too thick, add more water.
• Remove the pot from the heat. Remove the two pieces of bacon, and cut off and discard the rind. Cut the bacon crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Reserve.
• Stir the soup well, and season with 2 to 4 tablespoons mustard. Add salt, if necessary, and black pepper. Add more fresh thyme or marjoram if desired.
• Serve with soup in shallow bowls with slices of bacon on the side. Pass additional mustard to stir into the soup. In Sweden, this soup, called artsoppa, is served with crisp rye bread covered with grated vasterbottem, a sharp, hard cheese. Aged cheddar and Parmigiano Reggiano are good substitutes.

Steps:

• Rinse and pick through the peas. If using whole peas, allow to sit in the water you'll use for your soup overnight. This is unnecessary if you're using split peas as long as you simmer the soup for 2-3 hours.
• Fill a large pot with 8 cups water (or 6 if you like a thicker soup, then add water to taste). Add the peas, chopped onions, whole onion with cloves, carrot, and ham bone to the pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 90 minutes.
• If using whole peas, skim off any pea skins that have risen to the surface.
• Remove 2-3 cups of the soup, purée it, then return the purée to the pot. Continue to simmer at least another 30 minutes.
• 30 minutes before serving, remove the studded onion and the meat. Chop the meat (should be about 1 cup) and return to the pot.
• Season with thyme, ginger, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15 more minutes.
• Serve with mustard on the side so it may be added to taste.

Steps:

• In a soup pot or large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat.
• Add the onions, celery, and carrot and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the ginger and cloves and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the ham hocks and water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until hocks are beginning to get tender.
• Add the peas and black pepper and continue to simmer for 2 hours. Remove the ham hocks and set aside to cool slightly.
• Puree the soup in a blender, or use an immersion blender, working in batches if necessary.
• Return the soup to the pot and keep warm until ready to serve.
• If the soup seems too thick, thin with a bit of water.
• Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• When the salt pork is cool enough to handle, remove any visible fat or gristle and discard. Shred the meat and garnish each serving with some of the meat.