Italy Chilled Pea And Mint Soup Food

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.

CHILLED PEA-MINT SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the buttermilk to a simmer and add 4 cups of peas and a large pinch of salt. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring often so that the buttermilk does not boil over. The peas should not be fully cooked and still have a slight bite to them.
• Transfer the peas and liquid immediately to a blender with the mint leaves and, starting on low speed, carefully blend (holding the lid on firmly with a dishcloth), working up to high speed for 60 seconds.
• In order to preserve the vibrant color and flavor of the peas, the soup must be cooled immediately. Pass through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, then rest the bowl inside a larger bowl full of ice water. Stir continuously until cool, tasting occasionally; you will notice that the soup becomes sweeter as it cools. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Refrigerate until cold.
• To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with fresh peas and freshly ground black pepper.

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.

CHILLED (CANNED OR FRESH) PEA AND MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Shell the fresh peas.
• Melt butter in a saucepan and gently saute the onion until it is soft but not brown.
• Remove the onion mixture from the heat and mix in the milk, stock, peas, 2-3 mint sprigs, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, Stirring regularly (if using frozen peas add them now, straight from frozen, no need to thaw them first).
• Simmer, covered for about 30 minutes or until the peas are really tender. Let it cool just a little bit, then purée the mixture using a food processor , blender or by rubbing though a fine sieve.
• Add fresh cream to the purée, mix well and then chill for 2 hours.
• Serve chilled, garnished with sprigs of fresh mint.

CHILLED PEA SOUP WITH FROZEN MINT & MALT VINEGAR

Steps:

• First, make the ice cubes. Bring 75ml water, the malt vinegar and sugar to the boil. Add the mint leaves and set aside to steep for 10 mins. Strain into a jug, then pour into 12 holes of an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
• In a heavy-based saucepan, heat the butter until foaming, add the bacon and fry until crispy. Remove using a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion to the pan and cook until soft, about 10 mins. Add the sugar and 400ml water, bring to the boil, then add the frozen peas and mint. Bring back to the boil for 1 min, then remove from the heat and leave to cool a little. Pour the soup into a blender and blend until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve into a bowl (see tip below). Taste and season, then cover with cling film and chill until ready to serve.
• Chop the crispy bacon into small bits. To serve, mix the bacon with the fresh peas and rapeseed oil in a bowl. Ladle the soup into your dishes and add the ice cubes (if you like, you can crush them a bit too). Top with the bacon and peas, and scatter over a few mint leaves.

EASY PEA & MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Tip the frozen peas into a blender and pour over the hot water from a kettle. Leave the peas to defrost, then reserve 1 tbsp peas. Add a handful mint and the vegetable bouillon powder to the rest. Blitz until smooth, then chill. Serve, drizzled with cream and scattered with some chopped mint and the reserved peas.

GREEN PEA AND MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over low heat. Add the 4 chopped green onions, and cook until softened, but not brown. Stir in the peas, vegetable stock, and 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint. Increase heat to medium, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat back to low, cover, and let simmer for about 30 minutes. If you are using frozen peas, 15 minutes is enough.
• Using a large slotted spoon, remove about 3 tablespoons of the peas, and set aside for garnish. Pour the soup into a blender or food processor along with the milk, and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Throw in a pinch of sugar if desired. Allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.
• Pour the soup into 4 serving bowls. Swirl 1 tablespoon of light cream into each one, then garnish with reserved peas and sprigs of mint.

ITALY, CHILLED PEA AND MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Sweat the diced scallion in the olive oil, using as little oil as you can get away with. Over medium heat, add the shelled fresh peas and cover with 2 cups of broth, or enough to cover the peas. Cook about 15 minutes.
• Finely chop the mint and whisk into the soup, letting the mint flavor and smell permeate the pea soup.
• Pass the soup through a colander, pressing some of the mixture through. If it is too thick add water. Season to taste with salt and pepper, or even a sprinkle of sugar to liven it up. Cool it. Pour the soup into glass tumblers, and garnish with sprigs of mint. Serve well chilled.