Fresh Pea Soup Recipes

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S FRESH PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large saucepan, add the leeks and onion, and cook over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the onion is tender.
• Add the chicken stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil.
• Add the peas and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the peas are tender. (Frozen peas will take only 3 minutes.)
• Off the heat, add the salt, and pepper.
• *Puree the soup in batches: place 1 cup of soup in a blender, place the lid on top, and puree on low speed.
• With the blender still running, open the venthole in the lid and slowly add more soup until the blender is three-quarters full.
• Pour the soup into a large bowl and repeat until all the soup is pureed.
• Whisk in the creme fraiche and chives and taste for seasoning.
• Serve hot with garlic croutons.

FRESH PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Shuck the peas. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and sauté until soft, 5 to 6 minutes. Try not to let it brown. Add the stock and salt, raise the heat, and bring the pot to a boil. Add the peas, cover, and return the pot to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer the peas until just cooked through, 2 to 5 minutes. depending on size. Transfer the peas and some of the liquid to a blender and purée until smooth. Add the remaining liquid and blend again. Pass through a coarse strainer or food mill. Serve warm, topping each bowl with 1 tsp. of the crème fraîche and 1/2 tsp. of the chopped mint.

QUICK SWEET PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook onion about 10 minutes or until lightly browned and soft, stirring frequently.
• Blend onion, peas, spinach, lemon juice, thyme and 2 cups chicken broth in a blender or food processor until very smooth. Return to same saucepan. Stir in remaining broth. Gently heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in cream, if desired. Heat over low heat about 1 minute. DO NOT BOIL. Garnish with garlic croutons, if desired.

FRESH PEA SOUP WITH MINT

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in large kettle over medium heat. Add onions, salt, and pepper, and cook 5 minutes until onions have softened. Sir in the garlic and cook 1 minute until its aroma is released. Add the potatoes and saute 5 minutes until they begin to color. Add the chicken stock, lower the heat, and simmer gently 25 minutes until potatoes are soft. Add the peas and cook 3 minutes until tender but still bright green. Puree the mixture either through a food mill, with an immersion blender, or in a food processor, until smooth. Place in a clean pot, stir in the cream, and rewarm gently. Stir in the fresh mint and serve.
• In Portugal, this soup is often made with fresh fava beans. Use them if you can find them. Mint (horteln) grows abundantly in Portugal and is widely used in savory dishes, frequently in combination with coriander (coentro).

FRESH PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large saucepan, add the leeks and onion, and cook over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the onion is tender. Add the chicken stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Add the peas and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the peas are tender. (Frozen peas will take only 3 minutes.) Off the heat, add the mint, salt, and pepper.
• *Puree the soup in batches: place 1 cup of soup in a blender, place the lid on top, and puree on low speed. With the blender still running, open the venthole in the lid and slowly add more soup until the blender is three-quarters full. Pour the soup into a large bowl and repeat until all the soup is pureed. Whisk in the creme fraiche and chives and taste for seasoning. Serve hot with garlic croutons.

FRESH GREEN PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium and lightly cook chopped green onion and garlic.
• Add potatoes and stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat, partially cover and let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until potatoes are tender.
• Add peas and let simmer an additional 5 minutes.
• Carefully puree soup in blender or with a hand blender until smooth.
• Stir in buttermilk.
• Reheat until steaming.
• Season with cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Serve and garnish with pancetta.

FRESH PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Make a white sauce: melt the butter in a 4-6 cup saucepan. Add flour over moderately-low heat with all seasonings. Cook 1-2 minutes.
• Whisk in milk and cream, turn up heat, whisk, brining to a boil. Coat the top with some non stick cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap on its surface, or use a coffee filter instead.
• Put water, onion and peas into a soup pot, or 8-cup saucepan. Heat, with salt, bring to the boil. Cook, simmer gently, for 18-30 minutes, or until peas are well cooked. Taste. Transfer to a processor, food mill, the small holes of a meat grinder, or use an immersion blender, to purée.
• Put back in pot, add Béchamel, and stir till smooth, correct for seasoning, add more nutmeg, if desired.
• Serve hot, or cold with one or more of the optional garnishes.