What could be more timely than a comforting bowl of soup?
Pulled Pork Soup
Makes about 8 quarts or 25 hearty servings
chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle
For the pork shoulder:
1 small pork shoulder or pork butt, approximately 5-6 pounds
4 Tablespoons olive oil
Rub pork on all sides with Pork Rub, and refrigerate for at least two 2 hours or overnight.
Pre heat grill to medium heat.
Brush pork shoulder with olive oil. Roast pork on all sides about 1 hour until brown and not fully cooked.
Optional: Hot smoke with wood chips for a smokier flavored soup.
Remove and place pork in soup pot. Place soup pot on side burner of grill or on grill top, and continue with pea soup recipe as below.
Pork Rub
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon each: black pepper, garlic powder, sweet paprika, chili powder, thyme
1/2 teaspoon each: nutmeg, allspice, sea salt
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Store in a tightly sealed container.
To prepare soup:
2 pounds yellow split peas, rinsed in cold water
8 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped fine
2 cups sweet onion, chopped small
2 cups celery, chopped small
2 cups carrots, chopped small
8 quarts cold water
4 cups potatoes, scrubbed well and diced
4 cups Kale, chopped
3 bay leaves
1 Tablespoon hot sauce
fresh ground black pepper
Rinse the split peas in a large bowl, drain the peas and discard the water.
Add browned pork shoulder to a very large soup pot.
Preheat pot and add the garlic, onions, celery, and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are lightly brown.
Add the water, bay leaves, hot sauce, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 3 hours or until the pork is tender. Remove pork, cool, pull and chop meat into small pieces. Put pork back into soup.
Add potatoes, split peas, kale and simmer for 1 more hour or until peas are tender.
If you like a creamy soup, puree or pulse half of the soup. Return to the soup to the pot, bring to a boil to blend, then serve.
Good for you fact:
Making a warm bowl of pea soup may be good for those cold fall months, but did you know that it’s good for your heart as well? Pea soup is loaded with potassium and fiber, which reduces your blood pressure.
Tips for picking out the perfect pea:
There are two types of split peas, green and yellow. Both have the same nutritional value and cooking time, yet some yellow peas may have a milder taste then the sometimes sweeter green pea. Some peas need to be soaked overnight and looked over to make sure there are no pebbles or bad peas in your selection. Pea soup ranges from smooth to chunky with added vegetables and or especially smoked or grilled meats.
