093 Latvia – Pelēkie zirņi ar speķīti

Pelēkie zirņi ar speķīti (Grey Peas and Speck)

This is the dish that started my world recipes mission. I was watching the show Wallander (a crime drama) and the main character traveled from Sweden to Latvia. I wondered what is a Latvian dish? After an internet search I found recipes for Grey Peas and Speck. It is perhaps the most traditional Latvian hot dish. It can be served as a snack with beer, or as a main course.

Ingredients

450g grey peas (or split yellow peas), dried

1 onion (large), sliced

75g pearl barley

450g bacon, diced (Speck)

salt (optional as bacon may be salty)

pepper (optional)

1l vegetable stock

Directions

Soak the peas and pearl barley overnight and then place in a saucepan with the

sliced onion Brown off the bacon and add it to saucepan. Add a liter of stock, salt and pepper if necessary Cook slowly for two hours.

Original recipe found here:

https://www.netmums.com/recipes/grey-peas-bacon