Living in Quebec, we’ve learned to love many Quebequois foods. One traditional food that can’t be beat on a cold night here in Montreal is French Canadian Pea Soup.

A thick, stick to the ribs soup with huge pieces of smoked ham, you’ll love it!  Even better, this isn’t hard to make …

You’ll want:

• 2 1/4 cups of yellow split peas (soaked overnight)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup (3-4) chopped carrots
• 1 kg (approximately) smoked ham WITH the bone in
• 1L chicken stock (one box is perfect)
• 1 tsp thyme
• salt & pepper to taste

Grab your peas that have been soaking in water overnight. If you find all the water has been absorbed at any time, just add a bit more. Keep adding water until you no longer notice it being absorbed by the peas

Pour those peas into a large pot. If there is extra liquid, just pour it all in

If you want to save a step here, you can soak the peas overnight IN the pot you’re going to use. Just make sure you add enough water to get those peas soft.

Add the onion

See, this isn’t hard!

Grab that big ham and cut it into pieces that will fit nicely in the pot. Make sure you have that big ham bone!

Ham bone in the pot!

Add in the rest of the ham

Space it evenly around the pot

Add the thyme

Now, you probably think I’m gonna tell you to add the carrots … I am not!

Carrots added this early will basically become mush by the time this is cooked

Pour stock over top until it’s all pretty much covered and stir

Bring the soup to a boil and reduce the heat

After about 10 minutes you should see quite a foam being formed by the peas!

Lower the heat to a simmer and let it cook for about an hour, covered

Once the peas have for the most part dissolved and the soup is now thick, time to add the carrots

Pour in the carrots

And stir. Let this simmer covered for about another 20 minutes

With tongs, remove the ham to a separate plate

Cut the meat off of any bones, and cut up your large pieces of ham into pieces that will fit on a spoon

Return the ham to the soup … without the bones!

Okay, this is ready to serve!

Serve along with a sourdough baguette ….

Now, THIS is a meal

Savoury, smokey and thick enough to keep the spoon standing, French Canadian Pea Soup

Bon Apetit!