Dairy-Free & Egg-Free Canadian Back Bacon & Pea Soup

Instructions

1. 1Measure about 450 g of dried green peas and rinse them thoroughly under cold running water. Place the rinsed about 450 g of dried green peas into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add 8 cups of water to the pot. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the peas are very tender and starting to break down. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
2. 2While the peas are simmering, dice the about 225 g of dairy-free back bacon into 1.27 cm pieces. Place the diced about 225 g of dairy-free back bacon into a 25.4 cm skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the bacon is crispy and browned, about 8-10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the crispy bacon from the skillet and place it on a plate lined with paper towels. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings in the skillet.
3. 3Dice the 1 cup of carrot, 1/2 cup of celery, and 1 medium onion into 1.27 cm pieces. Add the diced 1 cup of carrot, 1/2 cup of celery, and 1 medium onion to the 25.4 cm skillet with the reserved 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Mince the 2 cloves of garlic and add them to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant, stirring constantly.
4. 4Add the sautéed vegetables and minced garlic from the skillet to the large, heavy-bottomed pot containing the tender peas and water. Stir in the 2 cups of vegetable broth, 1 tsp of dried thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp of salt, and 1/2 tsp of black pepper. Stir everything together well.
5. 5Bring the soup back to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Cover the pot and let it simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to combine. The soup should thicken slightly.
6. 6Carefully remove and discard the 1 bay leaf from the pot. Ladle the hot soup into serving bowls. Top each bowl with a portion of the reserved crispy about 225 g of dairy-free back bacon just before serving.

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