Starter Soup Light Bites Lunch

Pea & Ham Soup with Lemon & Thyme Oil

Louise Pickford's zingy take on a classic will level-up your soup game

30 minutes prep, 2 hours cook

Serves Serves 6

Ingredients

400g split green peas

1 onion, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely chopped

2 sticks of celery, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, bashed

2 bay leaves, bashed

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, bashed

350g piece of smoked bacon or pancetta, rind left on

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Crusty bread, to serve

1 garlic clove

2 large sprigs of fresh thyme, plus extra to serve

Grated zest of 1 lemon, plus extra to serve

100ml extra virgin olive oil

Method

Rinse the split peas thoroughly under cold water and shake dry. Place in a 4-litre Dutch oven with 2 litres cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer fast for 1 minute, removing any scum from the surface, then add all the remaining soup ingredients and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1.5–2 hours or until the peas are really tender. Season to taste (you may not need to add salt, as the bacon is already quite salty). Remove the bacon from the stock and cut away and discard the rind. Shred the meat, set aside, and keep warm.

Meanwhile, make the lemon and thyme oil. Place the garlic, thyme sprigs, and lemon zest in a mortar and pestle with a little salt and pound together to release the flavors and oils. Transfer to a small saucepan, pour over the olive oil, and heat very gently for 10 minutes without allowing it to come to a boil. Set aside to cool, then strain the oil, discarding the aromatics.

Divide the soup between warm bowls and top with the shredded bacon. Drizzle over the oil and serve with a little extra thyme, lemon zest, and freshly ground black pepper, plus crusty bread alongside.