Quebec Pea Soup

I got this recipe from A Taste of Quebec by Julian Armstrong which I've referenced before. It is a great Quebecois cookbook.

This recipe is for Pea Soup, Beauce Style but it is very similar to what they serve at the Cabane à Sucre.

Ingredients
2 cups dried white pea beans
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped leek, white part only
1/4 cup smoked ham, plus ham bone
1/2 lb. salt pork
1 clove garlic
2 L cold water

Directions

• Soak peas for at least 8 hours or overnight in water to cover; drain.
• Heat butter in a large heavy hot and saute onion and leek just until tender.
• Add peas, ham, salt pork (in one piece), garlic, water and salted herbs. Bringquickly to a boil, lower heat, partly cover, and cook gently for 2-3 hours oruntil peas are tender.
• Stir occasionally during cooking, adding more water if necessary.
• Remove salt pork, cut in small pieces, then return to soup and serve warm .