Pea Soup Beauce Style

A classic Quebec pea soup with dried white beans, smoked ham, and salt pork simmered for hours — the most requested dish at Auberge Benedict Arnold in St. Georges.

FrenchPorkIntermediate180 minBy Northstar

Ingredients

Servings
8
  • 2 cup dried white pea beans
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 0.5 cup chopped onion
  • 0.3 cup chopped leek, white part only
  • 0.3 cup smoked ham, plus ham bone
  • 0.5 lb salt pork
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 8 cup cold water
  • 2 tbsp salted herbs or fresh herbs, rinsed

Instructions

  1. 1

    Soak peas for at least 8 hours or overnight in water to cover; drain.

  2. 2

    Heat butter in a large heavy pot and sauté onion and leek just until tender.

  3. 3

    Add peas, ham, salt pork (in one piece), garlic, water, and salted herbs.

  4. 4

    Bring quickly to a boil, lower heat, partly cover, and cook gently for 2–3 hours or until peas are tender. Stir occasionally, adding more water if necessary.

  5. 5

    Remove salt pork, cut into small pieces, then return to soup. Serve hot.

Tags

soupfrenchhamtraditionalamericanpeaquebeccanadian