Pureed Spinach And Sweet Pea Soup With Fresh Mint Cream Recipes

CHILLED PEA SOUP WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook the leek in the butter over moderate heat for 3 minutes, or until softened. Add the broth, peas and seasonings and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes, or until the peas are very tender. In a food processor, blend the mixture in batches until combined well. Let it cool. Chill the soup, covered, for at least 2 hours. Before serving, stir in cream and fresh mint. Garnish with mint sprigs. Correct the seasoning.

MINTY PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened but not browned, 6-8 minutes. Add 2 cups broth and bring to a boil. Add peas, reduce heat, and simmer gently until tender, about 5 minutes for fresh peas, about 2 minutes for frozen.
• Remove pot from heat. Add parsley, mint, and remaining 2 cups broth to pot. Purée soup in a blender or with an immersion blender, thinning with water if soup is too thick, until smooth. Season soup with salt and pepper.
• Whisk crème fraîche and cream in a small bowl to blend. Serve warm soup topped with chives, passing crème fraîche mixture alongside for spooning over.

LEMONY PEA AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium. Add the leeks and celery, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the vermouth and garlic, and cook until the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil over high.
• Once it comes to a boil, add the frozen peas and cook, stirring occasionally, just until tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in the spinach until wilted. Stir in the parsley.
• Working in batches, transfer to a high-power blender and purée until creamy. (A food processor or immersion blender would work as well, though may take a little longer.) Return to the pot and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Makes about 12 cups.)
• Divide among bowls. Add pasta, if using, then top with a dollop of crème fraiche. Drizzle generously - nay, recklessly! - with olive oil. Sprinkle with a pile of herbs; grate fresh lemon zest on top; and serve immediately.

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.

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.

PEA SOUP WITH MINT CREAM

Steps:

• Mix creme fraiche or sour cream with chopped mint. Let stand for 30 minutes if serving the soup hot; refrigerate if serving it cold.
• Combine peas with stock in a medium-sized saucepan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer about seven minutes or until the peas are barely tender. Remove two tablespoons of peas with slotted spoons and reserve for garnish. Continue cooking remaining peas about 10 minutes, or until very tender.
• Transfer peas and cooking liquid to a blender or food processor. Puree until very fine. With the machine running, gradually pour in the milk. Continue to process until very smooth. Return to saucepan and simmer over low heat two minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in heavy cream. Bring to a boil, stirring, and simmer soup to desired consistency, about five minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Chill or plan to reheat before serving.
• To reheat soup, place in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring. Reheat reserved peas for 30 seconds in boiling water. Drain well. To serve, ladle soup into shallow bowls, spoon mint cream in the center of each serving and garnish with reserved peas and sprigs of mint.

FRESH PEA AND MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic. Sauté until tender, about 7 minutes. Add peas and stir 1 minute. Add 5 1/2 cups broth and bring to simmer. Cook until peas are very tender, about 8 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Puree soup and 1/4 cup chopped mint in batches in blender until smooth. Return to same pot; thin with more broth by 1/4 cupfuls, if desired. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, cover, and chill.
• Rewarm soup over medium-low heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls; garnish with additional mint.
• What to drink:
• A bottle of bubbly is the perfect way to begin this special meal. It's also a great pairing for the soup. We like the crisp acidity and long finish of the Champagne Henriot NV Brut Souverain ($35, France).