Green Split Pea & Bacon Soup

Step 1: Heat oil in a saucepan over medium high heat and add onion and garlic and cook stirring for about 3 minutes till onion is soft.

Step 2: Add peas and stir to coat.

Step 3: Add stock and cold water and bring to the boil.

Step 4: Reduce heat to low and simmer partially covered for 25 to 45 minutes or until peas are tender (see note above).

Step 5: Remove from heat and process half the soup in a blender or use a stick blender till smooth or do what I did and put the stick blender straight into the pot and process to your liking.

Step 6: Return to pot or if you just used the stick blender, stir in lemon juice and cook for 3 minutes or until heated through.

Step 7: While soup was cooking in the first 25 minutes, heat a frying pan over medium high heat and add bacon and cook till crisp or use recipe #208501 .

Step 8: Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel and drain and then crumble into pieces.