Josef Lorenz

Grandma Brown's Split Pea Soup with Bacon
Servings: 12

To Central New Yorkers, Grandma Brown's Baked Beans were a staple at backyard barbecues, family picnics, and cookouts for generations. The company was founded by Lulu Brown in 1937 and operated out of a small warehouse in Mexico, NY, until it closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Operations have not resumed since.
The company had three lesser-known, Depression-era products besides their claim-to-fame Baked Beans. These were: Split Pea Soup, Saucepan Beans, and Bean Soup.
Below is my recipe for Grandma Brown's Split Pea Soup with Bacon. You'll find the recipe contains the exact ingredients (no more, no less) of what was listed on the back of the cans. Feel free to doctor this up however you like. I've opted for chopped bacon as a garnish.

Ingredients
1 pound (about 2 cups) dried green split peas
Water, for soaking and cooking
6 slices bacon, finely chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon corn starch
Salt and pepper to taste

Steps
1. Rinse the dried green split peas under cold water and remove any debris. Place the split peas in a large bowl and cover with water. Allow them to soak for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Drain and rinse the soaked split peas. In a large pot, combine the split peas with enough water to cover them by about 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the split peas are tender and beginning to break down.
3. While the split peas are cooking, heat a separate large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy.
4. Optional: Remove half of the cooked bacon and set it aside for garnish.
5. Add the chopped onion to the pot with the remaining bacon and cook until the onion is soft and translucent.
6. Add the cooked split peas to the pot with the bacon and onions. In a small bowl, mix the corn starch with a little water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the soup to thicken it. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Allow the soup to simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded together and the soup has thickened to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
8. Ladle the Green Split Pea Soup into bowls and garnish with the reserved crispy bacon on top (optional).