Soupe Aux Pois Beauceons (pea Soup Beauce Style)

Serves:

Ingredients:

2 c Dried white pea beans
2 tb Butter
1/2 c Onion, chopped
1/4 c Leek, chopped, white part
-only
1/4 c Smoked ham, plus ham bone
1/2 lb Salt pork
1 Garlic clove
8 c Cold water
2 tb Salted herbs, rinsed in cold
-water

Method:

Servings: 8 Soak peas for at least 8 hours or overnight in water to cover; drain.
Heat butter in a large, heavy pot and saute onion and leek until tender.
Add peas, ham, salt pork (in one piece), garlic, water and salted herbs.
Bring quickly to a boil, lower heat, partly cover, and cook gently for 2 to 3 hours or until peas are tender.
Stir occasionally during cooking, adding more water if necessary.
Remove salt pork, cut in small pieces, then return to soup.
May be frozen.