Labels
- Food
May 14, 2012
Beer and Bacon Split Pea Soup {Recipe Perfected}
I know I've featured split pea soup here before, but I recently fell butt-backwards into recipe perfection and HAD to share. I was making split pea soup, and had just cracked open an ice cold beer (hey, it was a long day!). I was nearing the point in the recipe where I needed to add my liquids (a blend of chicken stock and water). I reached over and grabbed my beer for a quick sip. Before the bottle could touch my lips, it dawned on me -- I could put this in my soup. I looked at my mostly-full Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I looked at my sauteing veggies. I choked up a little, said good-bye to my beer, and poured it straight-away into the dutch oven. I smiled.
And then I got myself a fresh beer.
- 1 20oz bag green split peas with the ham packet
- 1 medium onion (any kind), chopped
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 6 slices thick cut bacon
- 1 12oz pale ale (Sierra Nevada is my fave)
- 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
- 52 oz water
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp butter
- green onions, finely chopped (enough to garnish)
Slice your bacon into lardons (about 1/2" wide pieces).
Before you turn on your stove, add the bacon to a dutch oven. Turn your stove burner to medium heat, and render the bacon until it's just crisp (but not super crispy / burned). About 10-2 minutes, stirring periodically.Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, and transfer to paper towels to drain. Your bacon should look like this.....mmmm....bacon.... {wipes drool}
Leave all of the bacon fat in the pan. Hey -- I never promised this would be a diet blog. There's a reason this tastes good, and it starts withbuying bigger jeans. Eat a salad or jog a lap the day before.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch....Immediately add the onions and garlic to the pan (remaining at medium heat). Saute, stirring periodically, until the onions are soft -- about 5 minutes.
Cheers! What are you making for dinner this week?
Labels:Food
Comments
AnneOctober 13, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Thanks for the suggestion! I brew my own beer (so there is always LOTS around) and without any chicken stock on hand I wondered... and googled... and found your site. My pea soup is happily simmering now with 12 oz of my Thai Basil infused IPA. Smells delightful :)