Ham hock and fresh pea soup

1.Place ham hock, quartered onion, carrot, celery and bay leaf in a large saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to a simmer and cook until the meat is falling from the bone (1-1¼ hours). Remove ham hock and shred meat (discard skin, bone and sinew). Strain and reserve cooking liquid.

2.Heat butter in a large saucepan and sauté sliced onions over low heat until very soft and beginning to caramelise (10-12 minutes). Add peas and 2 litres reserved ham stock (top up with water if you don’t have enough stock), simmer until peas are tender (1-2 minutes), then purée in a blender or with a hand-held blender until smooth, adding more stock as necessary for desired consistency. Season to taste, divide among serving bowls, top with shredded ham hock and serve hot.