Note: Start with a big pot because you’re gonna need it! Pour the green split peas straight into the empty pot, then add the bacon bones, bacon pieces, pork chop, pepper, beef stock, and clove-studded onion. Pour in the water and fire up the stove to a medium-high heat.
2 cups green split peas, 2 bacon bones, 2 bacon rashers, 1 onion, 1 pork chop, 2 tsp beef stock, black pepper, 2.25 ltr cold water
Bring to the boil then simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Scoop off any broth foam that appears. Remove the pork chop and slice the meat off the bones - we’ll be adding the meat back in later.
Add all the chopped veggies (leeks, carrots and celeriac) and give everything a good stir. Cook over a medium heat for 30 minutes until soft and delicious. Stir occasionally to avoid the vegetables sticking to the bottom.
2 leek, 2 carrots, ½ celeriac
At the "15 minutes-to-go" mark remove the bacon bones and the clove-studded onion. Discard the bones. Remove the cloves from the onion and discard the cloves, then chop the onion. Add the chopped onion and pork back into the soup.
Now you’ve got a big choice friends. To blend - or not to blend? To blend, use a stick blender, regular blender or food processor and blend the soup in batches til you’re happy with the consistency. Or you can easily leave it chunky! We won't judge. Your final soup/stew should be thick enough for a spoon to stand upright.