Pea And Mint Baby Food Recipes

PEA & MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Put the spring onions into a large pan with the potato, garlic and stock. Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potato is very soft. For the garnish, blanch 3 tbsp of the shelled peas in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, drain, put in a bowl of cold water and set aside. Add the remaining peas to the soup base and simmer for 5 minutes - no longer, or you will lose the lovely fresh flavour of the peas.
• Stir in the mint, sugar and lemon or lime juice, cool slightly then pour into a food processor or liquidiser and whizz until as smooth as you like. Stir in half the buttermilk or soured cream, taste and season with salt and pepper.
• To serve the soup cold, cool quickly, then chill - you may need to add more stock to the soup before serving as it will thicken as it cools. To serve hot, return the soup to the rinsed-out pan and reheat without boiling (to prevent the buttermilk or soured cream from curdling).
• Serve the soup in bowls, garnished with the remaining buttermilk and the drained peas.

NEW POTATOES WITH PEAS AND MINT

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in boiling water until JUST fork-tender (do not overcook the potatoes).
• While the potatoes are cooking in a small bowl whisk together vinegar with salt and black pepper.
• Place the thawed peas on a plate and lightly dry using a paper towel/s.
• Drain the potatoes then slice in half.
• Place into the bowl; pour the vinegar mixture over and toss to coat.
• Add in oil, peas, green onion, mint and peas; toss well to combine.
• Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve warm or room temperature.

SMASHED MINTED PEAS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over a medium heat and sizzle the shallot for 5 mins until soft. Add the stock and peas, and bring to a simmer. Cook gently for 10 mins until the peas are soft.
• Roughly mash the pea mixture with a potato masher, or, if you prefer a smoother texture, purée with a hand blender. (It's best to leave some of the peas whole or roughly crushed for texture.) Season to taste and stir through the mint leaves just before serving.

NIGELLA LAWSON PEA, MINT AND AVOCADO SALAD

Steps:

• First make the dressing: put the oil and vinegar and a pinch of sugar into a large bowl and then put in a decent handful of chopped mint.
• Stir well so all is amalgamated.
• Cook the podded peas for a short time in salted boiling water, just so they are ready, but not soft.
• Taste after 2 minutes and then keep tasting.
• Pour peas in colander and then straight away into the bowl of dressing and let steep for an hour or up to a day.
• Just before serving, stir in about a packetful of mixed salad, the chicory which has been separated into it leaves and the avocado, which should be cut into bite size chunky slices.
• You may need to drizzle a bit more oil after tossing.
• serve this on a big plate.
• Sprinkle with more mint.