What's the difference between soup and stew? There's many differences including the texture: soup is generally thinner, more simply flavoured and needs to be served in a bowl, whereas stew is chunky, gravy-like and toothsome. Soup not a fan favourite in your house because of its lackluster texture? Try this one instead. It's chunky, salty, slightly spicy and delicious, to warm you up inside and out.  

Spicy Split Pea Soup with Bacon

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 8 rashers of Voodoo Bacon, cut into 1cm pieces 
•  2 tablespoons of olive oil 
•  2 leeks
•  4 finely chopped garlic cloves 
•  2 teaspoons of chilli flakes 
•  400g of yellow or green split peas 
• 1.5 litres of vegetable or chicken stock
• 400g of coconut milk 
• 1 red capsicum 
• 2 tomatoes chopped 
• 1 lime juiced 
• 6 lime wedges 
• Fresh coriander leaves 
• 1 fresh chilli, in strips

Method

1. Heat a large pan and cook the bacon until golden. Remove and set aside. Heat the oil in the pan and gently cook the leeks and garlic for a few minutes until softened. Stir in the chilli and split peas and toss together well for a few minutes.

2. Pour in the stock and coconut milk and simmer for 15 minutes or until the split peas are cooked. Remove from the heat and stir in the bacon.

3. Serve with lime wedges, and garnish with coriander and fresh chilli.

Originally posted on Voodoo Bacon