Ham and pea Soup

1 1/3 cups  green or yellow split peas

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 carrots, peeled, chopped
• 2 sticks celery, trimmed, chopped
• 1 brown onion, halved, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 700g ham or bacon hocks
• 2L (8 cups) cold water
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Method 

Rinse split peas under cold running water until water runs clear. Drain.Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add carrot, celery, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the onion softens.Add split peas, ham hocks and water. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 2 - 2 1/2 hours or until ham hocks are tender and the meat is falling away from the bones. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Remove ham hocks from pan. Remove the meat from bones. Coarsely chop meat and set aside.

Preheat oven to 220°C. Place one-quarter of the pea mixture in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Return to pan with ham. Repeat with remaining pea mixture. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Stir over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until hot. Ladle soup into bowls and serve immediately with crusty bread rolls.