James Beards Curried Pea Soup Recipes

CURRIED SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Place the butter into a large (4 to 6-quart) saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the onion and a generous pinch of salt and sweat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to sweat for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, making certain not to allow onions or garlic to brown.
• Add the peas, chicken broth and curry powder. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook at a simmer until the peas are tender and not holding their shape any longer, approximately 45 to 50 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Using care and a stick blender, puree the soup until the desired consistency. Watch out for hot splatters.

CURRY SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil, and stir in the lemon juice, garlic, carrots, onions, and celery. Cook and stir until the carrots become soft enough to break apart with a fork, about 20 minutes. Transfer the vegetables and their juices into a bowl, and refrigerate. Once slightly cool, place them into a blender, and blend until the mixture forms a smooth puree.
• Pour the water into the soup pot, and stir in the chicken bouillon cubes until they dissolve. Pour in the vegetable puree, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Stir in split peas, Italian seasoning, cumin, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and curry powder. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the peas soften and break down into a thick soup, at least 45 minutes.

CURRIED PEA SOUP WITH FRIZZED GINGER

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, and leek and season with salt and pepper. Saute the vegetables until they are softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the curry powder, stir, and cook for 2 minutes more.
• Add the stock and herb sachet to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat and let simmer until the vegetables have completely softened, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the peas and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
• Use tongs to remove and discard the herb sachet.
• Use an immersion blender to puree the soup in the pot, or puree it in batches in a standing blender, then return the soup to the pot over medium heat. Stir in the creme fraiche, being careful not to let the soup return to a boil. (If you like, reserve a few tablespoons of the creme fraiche to drizzle over each serving.)
• Divide soup among individual bowls and serve at once, topping each serving with a drizzle of creme fraiche, if desired, and a few pieces of frizzled ginger.
• Pour the oil into a heavy-bottomed stockpot or lobster pot. Add all the other ingredients and cook, stirring, over medium-low heat until the vegetables have all softened but not colored, about 15 minutes. Pour in 6 quarts water, raise the heat to high, and bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and let the liquid simmer for 2 hours.
• Carefully strain the stock through a fine-meshed strainer set over a large bowl or pot, pressing down on the solids with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid and flavor as possible. Let the stock cool, then refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze in batches to be thawed and used as needed.
• Pour oil into a small pot and heat to 265 degrees F. Shave the ginger into a fine julienne using a Japanese mandoline, vegetable slicer, or very sharp thin-bladed knife. Adds the ginger crisps to the oil, frying them until crispy, about 1 minute; use a slotted spoon to remove them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Salt as soon as it hits the paper. These crisps can be held at room temperature for up to 2 hours.

CURRIED PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 onion and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add curry and stir 30 seconds. Add 4 cups broth and peas and bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until peas are very tender, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Puree in blender in batches. Thin with more broth if desired. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Mix yogurt, cilantro and red onion in small bowl. Cover; chill up to 2 hours.
• Rewarm soup, stirring often. Serve with dollop of yogurt mixture.

JAMES BEARD'S CURRIED PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Into a small saucepan put peas, onion, carrot, garlic, celery, potato, salt, curry, and 1 cup of the chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Empty vegetables and liquid into container of liquid blender, or use imersion blender, and blend for 6 seconds.
• Remove cover and with motor on, add remaining cup of chicken broth and the cream.
• Heat over simmering water, or chill and serve cold.

CURRIED PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water, bouillon, garlic, curry powder, salt, pepper and mint to a boil. Stir in peas and celery. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 6-8 minutes or until peas and celery are tender. Cool slightly. , Place pea mixture and milk in a blender; cover and process until blended. Return to saucepan. Stir in cream; heat through (do not boil). Stir in lemon juice. Garnish with fresh mint if desired.

CURRIED PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add 1 onion and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add curry and stir 30 seconds.
• Add 4 cups broth and peas and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer until peas are very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Puree in blender in batches.
• Thin with more broth if desired.
• Mix yogurt, cilantro and red onion in small bowl.
• Cover; chill up to 2 hours.
• Rewarm soup, stirring often.
• Serve with dollop of yogurt mixture.

JAMES BEARD'S BASIC HOME-STYLE BREAD

Steps:

• Add the yeast to 1/2 cup of the warm milk, along with 2 tbl sugar, and stir well until the yeast in completely dissolved. Allow the yeast to proof.
• Place the remaining milk, butter and salt in a bowl. (Beard liked a lot of salt, and I would use less). Stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time, with a wooden spoon.
• After the third cup, add the yeast mixture. Continue stirring in flour until the mixture is rather firm, which should take about 4 to 5 cups.
• Remove the dough to a floured board and knead, adding more flour as necessary, until it is supple, satiny and no longer sticky.
• Butter a bowl and place the dough in it, turning to coat all sides with the fat. Cover and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Deflate the dough by punching firmly two or three times, return to the floured board, and knead 4 to 5 minutes more.
• Divide into two equal parts and shape into loaves. Place in well-buttered 9x5x3 in loaf tins, cover, and let rise again until doubled in bulk.
• Slash the loaves with a sharp knife and brush with lightly beaten egg white or water.
• Bake in a 400 deg. oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped with the knuckles.
• Remove the loaves from the pans and put them back in the oven a few minutes longer to become crisped.