Yellow Split Pea Soup With Portuguese Smoked Linguica - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 slices maple bacon
2 bay leaves
1 medium maui onion (Chopped)
1 medium carrot (Chopped)
1 serrano pepper (Chopped)
1 tablespoon garlic (Chopped)
1 tablespoon winter savory (Chopped)
1 tablespoon thyme (Chopped)
1 tablespoon oregano (Chopped)
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 lb Portuguese chourico (Smoked, Sliced)
1/2 cup white wine (Portuguese, Vinho Verde)
5 cups ham stock
1 lb yellow split peas
3 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
3 tablespoons chives (chopped)
1/2 cup creme fraiche

Preparation

In a 5-quart Dutch Oven cook bacon crisp. Remove bacon and chop into bits. Reserve 2-tablespoons bacon grease.
Add bay leaves, onion, carrot and Serrano pepper. Saute 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add garlic, fresh herbs, salt, celery salt, pepper, Linguica Smoked Sausage and saute 1-2 minutes.
Add Portuguese Wine (Vinho Verde) and reduce by one-half.
Add ham stock, yellow split peas and bacon bits. Bring soup to a full boil and reduce to a simmer for 1-hour or until peas are done.
The last 5-mimutes add chopped cilantro, chives and stir in creme fraiche.
Remove the soup from stove and discard bay leaves. Puree with a hand blender or a food processor. Season soup with sea salt and white pepper to taste.
Garnish soup with fresh chopped chives.