Yellow Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked ham hocks
• 1 lb dried yellow split peas, cleaned
• 3 slices fresh ginger root, cleaned
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 cups water or stock
• 3 carrots, grated
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1½ tsp chili powder
• 1 small piece fresh hot pepper
• 1 tbsp Trinidad rum
• 1½ tbsp chopped chadon beni (culantro)

Procedures

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in soup pot and simer for one hour.
2. Stir in carrots, onion, turmeric, chili powder and hot pepper- simmer for another 30 minutes.
3. Remove ham hocks, cut meat from the bone; cut meat into small pieces and return to pot.
4. Add rum and chadon beni and simmer for another 30 minutes.
5. Discard ginger pieces before serving.