Minted Pea Purée Food

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.

PEA PUREE

Steps:

• Fill a pan with cold water and throw in the clove of garlic. Bring to the boil and then add salt and the peas. Cook until tender, drain, and put into a food processor, or blender, and add the creme fraiche, cheese, and dried mint. Puree the peas until knobbly and check the seasoning, adding salt if you need to. Tip the pureed peas into a bowl (or back in the pan is probably a better idea) and cover to keep them warm.

MINTED PEA PURéE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Add the water to a medium pot and bring to a boil. Add the peas, fresh mint, and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the peas are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Drain the peas and mint in a colander.
• Using an immersion blender , quickly purée the peas and mint to create a smooth paste. If you don't have an immersion blender, use a food processor instead or mash the peas well with a potato masher or fork. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
• You can use the peas in rough purée form, but if you want a very fine, smooth purée, push the mixture through a fine sieve.
• Stir in the butter and chopped mint leaves (if using) until all the butter has melted and is incorporated into the purée.
• Serve minted pea purée warm alongside your favorite meat or fish dish.

MINTED PEA PURéE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine the peas with 1/4 cup water and the mint leaves and boil the mixture, covered, for 4 minutes, or until the peas are tender. Drain the mixture well and in a food processor purée it with the half-and-half, the butter, and salt and pepper to taste. The purée may be made 1 day in advance, kept covered and chilled, and reheated. Transfer the purée to a serving dish and garnish it with the mint sprigs.

MINTED PEA PUREE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, put them into a food processor and pulse until chunky. Add the ricotta and pulse to combine. While the processor is running, pour in the oil in a slow steady stream. Transfer the puree to a serving bowl, then stir in the mint and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange the bread on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with some garlic infused olive oil. Toast in the oven until light golden, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Spread the pea puree over the toasts and serve.

SWEET PEA CROSTINI

Steps:

• For the Sweet Peas: Warm the chicken broth and red pepper flakes in a medium
• saucepan over medium-high heat until the broth boils. Add the frozen peas and cook until the peas are tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the peas in a mesh sieve.
• Place the peas in a food processor with the mint, salt, and pepper. Puree the pea mixture. Place the pea puree in a medium bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for the crostini: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the baguette slices on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in the oven until toasted and golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. While the crostini are still warm, drizzle the tops with extra-virgin olive oil. Using a whole clove of garlic in your fingertips, rub the top of the crostini a few times to give a hint of garlic.
• To finish, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the pea puree. Top each of the crostini with about 1 tablespoon of pea puree. Sprinkle with a bit of the diced prosciutto. Serve immediately.

PEA PUREE

Steps:

• Throw all the ingredients into a food processor and whizz until smooth. Done!

RACK OF LAMB WITH MINTED PEA PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.
• Place the lamb on a rack in a baking dish.
• Place the mint, garlic, vinegar and sugar in a food processor and work until a paste forms.
• Add the olive oil slowly to the mixture adding a little more if the mixture seems too thick-if the mixture seems too runny, add a few more mint leaves.
• Season to taste.
• Coat the lamb with the mint paste and marinate for 15 minutes.
• Place in the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until done to your liking.
• Minted Pea Puree: Place the potato in a saucepan and boil until tender.
• Add the peas and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Drain and place in food processor along with butter and mint leaves.
• Pulse for a short time so mixture is smooth, but with a little texture.
• Serve with the lamb.