Chunky Pea n Ham Soup Recipe

Place the ham in a large pan or casserole and cover with water.
Bring to the boil briefly, then drain and set aside.
Peel and chop the onions, peel and slice the carrots, trim and thinly slice the celery
In the pan used for the ham, heat 2 tbsp oil over a medium-low heat, add the onions, carrot and celery and fry for 20-25 minutes until soft and aromatic, stirring occasionally.
Rinse the split peas in a sieve under the cold tap, and add them to the pan. Add 2½ litres water, the ham joint Bring to the boil, skim off any surface foam, and simmer uncovered over a low heat for 1 hour.
Now add lentils, put on a lid and simmer for a further hour, by which time the split peas should be nice and mushy, and the ham meltingly tender.
Remove the ham from the pan to a plate or chopping board, peel off the rind and shred the flesh off the bone using a fork. Add this back to the pan, and season to taste salt n pepper