Pureed Spinach And Sweet Pea Soup With Fresh Mint Cream Recipes

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).

SPINACH AND MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Add potato and garlic; sauté 5 minutes. Add 4 1/2 cups broth and green onions; bring to boil. Cover and simmer until potato is tender, about 15 minutes. Add spinach, 3/4 cup mint, and cilantro. Simmer soup 1 minute.
• Puree soup in blender in batches; return to same pot. Thin with more broth by 1/4 cupfuls, if desired. Season soup with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before serving.
• Heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in small skillet over low heat. Mix in paprika; cook 1 minute. Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle with paprika oil; garnish with 1/4 cup mint.

MINTED SWEET PEA AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a pot.
• Add the chopped onions, cover, and cook over low heat until tender and lightly colored, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain the spinach and squeeze out excess liquid.
• Pour the stock into the pot, stir in the peas and spinach, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until peas are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Pull the mint leaves from their stems; there should be 2 cups loosely packed leaves.
• Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
• When peas are tender, add mint to the pot, cover, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Pour the soup through a strainer, reserving liquid, and transfer the solids to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, or use a food mill fitted with the medium disc (or just use the handy dandy blender).
• Add 1 cup of the cooking stock and process until smooth.
• Return pureed soup to the pot.
• Add the heavy cream and additional cooking liquid, aboout 1 cup, until the soup is of the desired consistency.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, simmer briefly to heat through, and serve immediately.