Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Corn Bread Croutons |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 6 |
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Watercress provides a peppery finish to this down-home combination of bacon, black-eyed peas, and corn bread. Look for corn bread muffins or loaves in the bakery section or frozen bread section of your supermarket, or use leftovers you've saved. Ingredients:
1 cup (1-inch) cubed corn bread (about 3 1/2 ounces) |
4 applewood-smoked bacon slices, chopped |
3 cups chopped onion |
6 garlic cloves, minced |
6 cups cooked black-eyed peas |
2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth |
2 cups water |
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme |
3/4 teaspoon salt |
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper |
1 cup chopped trimmed watercress |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Arrange corn bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add bacon to pan; cook 5 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan. Set bacon aside. Add onion and garlic to drippings; cook 8 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in peas and next 5 ingredients (through pepper); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 40 minutes or until beans are very tender.
4. Place half of bean mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour pureed soup into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining bean mixture. Ladle about 1 1/3 cups soup into each of 6 bowls; top each serving with about 2 1/2 tablespoons watercress, 2 1/2 tablespoons croutons, and about 1 1/2 teaspoons bacon.
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