a white bowl of split pea soup garnished with crispy bacon and croutons

The London Particular - Green Split Pea Soup

40 minutes - 50 minutes

Serves 6

This recipe is from Delia's Complete How to Cook.

This soup, made with the bacon stock from Boiled Smoked Bacon, is so named because of the thick, dense 'peasouper' London fogs that were so prevalent during the first half of the last century.

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Split Pea Soup sticking!

Asked by: NicolaB

I love Delia's LONDON PARTICULAR - GREEN SPLIT PEA SOUP but my split peas always stick to the bottom of the pan! I wondered whether cooking it in a slow cooker would prevent this? If so, how would I alter the recipe for the slow cooker please?

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, We do not use a slow cooker, so we’re not best placed to advise you on how to alter the recipe. If you’re making in a saucepan, I’d keep the temperature very low during the simmering time and the occasional stir will reduce the risk of it sticking. Kind regards Lindsey

Method

First strain off 3½ pints (2 litres) bacon stock into a large saucepan and bring just up to simmering point, then add the split peas, stir well and simmer very gently for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile heat 1 oz (25 g) of the butter in another saucepan and add 4 oz (110 g) of the bacon along with the prepared vegetables. Cook them over a medium heat until softened and nicely golden – this will take about 15 minutes. After that the bacon and softened vegetables can be transferred to join the stock and split peas. Then add some salt and freshly milled pepper, put the lid on and simmer very gently for a further 40-50 minutes.

Meanwhile heat a frying pan (without any fat in it) and fry the remaining bacon until it is really crisp, then transfer it to a plate using a draining spoon. Next add 1 oz (25 g) of the butter to the pan, and as soon as it begins to foam add the cubes of bread and fry these, tossing them around, for about five minutes until they are also nice and crisp. When the soup is ready, either process it in a food processor or liquidise, then return it to the saucepan. Taste to check the seasoning, adding just a little more of any reserved stock if it seems a little too thick.

Just before serving melt the remaining butter into it, then ladle into serving bowls and sprinkle each one with the croutons and crispy bacon bits.