Uncle Bill'S Indian Split Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

10 cups water
1 large ham bone
3 large bay leaves
10 peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves, wrap in cheesecloth
2 inches cinnamon sticks, wrap in cheesecloth
2 large celery ribs, including leaves, chopped
1/2 cup split peas
1/2 cup yellow split peas
1/4 cup red lentil
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped small
4 garlic cloves, chopped
8 cups water
2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
cheesecloth

Preparation

In a large cooking pot, add 10 cups of water and bring to boil.
Add ham bone, bay leaves, peppercorns, whole cloves, cinnamon stick, celery including leaves, green and yellow split peas and red lentils.
Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 3 hours.
Remove from heat and let completely cool until fat gels on the top.
Carefully skim all fat and discard.
Remove ham bone and large ham pieces that fall off the bone and set aside.
Leave small pieces of ham in cooking pot.
Remove sack of cloves and cinnamon stick and discard.
In a frying pan, heat olive oil.
Add onion and garlic and saute' until onions are translucent.
Transfer cooked onions to cooking pot.
Add 8 cups of water, curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, red hot pepper flakes, salt, carrots, and bring to boil.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1/2 hour.
Puree' soup in batches in a food processor or blender and return to cooking pot.
Chop ham pieces into bite size pieces and add to cooking pot.
Adjust seasonings to taste.
Bring soup back to boil.
If you prefer a spicier soup, add more red hot pepper flakes or some cayenne pepper.
Serve soup hot.