Pea And Parsley Soup With Golden Caviar Recipes

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.

GOLDEN SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH HAM

Steps:

• Stir-fry onions in drippings 5 to 8 minutes in a large saucepan over moderate heat until pale golden. Add ham and stir-fry 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve steaming hot with buttery chunks of garlic bread.

GOLDEN YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery and turmeric and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the peas, vegetable broth, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil; cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the peas are tender and the soup is thickened, 40 to 45 minutes. Stir in 1 to 2 cups water at the end of cooking if the soup is too thick.
• Meanwhile, stir together the sour cream, paprika and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Spoon the soup into serving bowls and top with the sour cream. Garnish with thyme, if desired.

TAILLEVENT'S CREAM OF WATERCRESS SOUP WITH CAVIAR

Steps:

• To make the soup base: Melt the butter in a 6-quart stockpot over medium heat. Stir in the leeks, onion and salt. Cover and cook over low heat until the vegetables are soft but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and cream. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil, then simmer on low, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
• Purée the soup in a blender or food processor or with a hand-held immersion blender until emulsified and smooth. Return the mixture to the stockpot and set over medium-high heat. Bring to a gentle boil. Using a slotted spoon, skim off any impurities that rise to the surface. Set aside or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
• To finish the soup: Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. Bring 4 quarts water to a boil. Add the coarse sea salt and watercress. Blanch until wilted and soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Immediately drain the watercress, then plunge into the ice water to stop the cooking. Drain again; do not squeeze out all the water. Purée the watercress in a food processor, then place it in a fine-meshed sieve and press out any remaining liquid. Discard the liquid. Set the purée aside.
• When ready to serve, reheat the soup base over low heat. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, whip the cream to stiff peaks. Stir in the lemon juice and season to taste with sea salt and white pepper. Just before serving, add the watercress purée to the warmed soup and stir until blended. Ladle the soup into shallow soup bowls. Place a scoop of whipped cream in the center of each bowl and top with a small spoonful of caviar.

GREEN PEA, ASPARAGUS, AND PARSLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and sauté for 4 minutes, until softened. Add the broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in the peas and asparagus and simmer, covered, for 3 minutes longer. Carefully place half of the soup in a high-powered blender and puree until smooth, then return it to the pot. Add the parsley and thyme (if using), and stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.