Peas And Potato Soup With Tarragon Pesto Food

PASTA, PESTO, AND PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the fusilli and bow ties separately in a large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes until each pasta is al dente. Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree the pesto, spinach, and lemon juice. Add the mayonnaise and puree. Add the pesto mixture to the cooled pasta and then add the Parmesan, peas, pignoli, salt, and pepper. Mix well, season to taste, and serve at room temperature.
• Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the Parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.
• Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack it in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.
• To clean basil, remove the leaves, swirl them in a bowl of water, and then spin them very dry in a salad spinner. Store them in a closed plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel. As long as the leaves are dry they will stay green for several days.

POTATO, LEEK, AND PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir leeks in the melted butter until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stir potatoes and chicken broth into the leeks and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes.
• Stir peas and tarragon into the soup; simmer until peas are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than half full.
• Hold down the lid of the blender with a towel and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup in the pot.
• Pour milk into the pureed soup and bring to a simmer over medium heat until heated through. Season with salt and black pepper.

PEA & PESTO SOUP WITH FISH FINGER CROûTONS

Steps:

• Tip the peas and potatoes into a large saucepan, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 mins, until the potato chunks are tender. Meanwhile, grill the fish fingers as per pack instructions until cooked through and golden. Cut into bitesize cubes and keep warm.
• Take a third of the peas and potatoes out of the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. Blend the rest of the soup until smooth, then stir in the pesto with the reserved vegetables. Heat through and serve in warm bowls with the fish finger croûtons on top.

SPLIT PEA AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 6-quart pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in split peas, chicken stock, and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.
• Add potatoes, and simmer until they are tender, about 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

FRESH PEA SOUP WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• In a saucepan cook onion in butter, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes, or until tender. Add peas and broth and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes, or until peas are tender. Stir in tarragon.
• In a blender purée soup until smooth and pour through a coarse sieve back into pan. Heat soup over moderate heat until hot and remove pan from heat. Add white pepper and salt to taste and stir in all but 2 teaspoons buttermilk.
• Divide soup between 2 bowls and gently spoon half of remaining buttermilk onto each serving.

GREEN PEA AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan, add onion and garlic, cook, stirring until the onion is soft.
• Pour the chicken stock into the saucepan with the onion and garlic and bring to the boil.
• Add the potatoes, boil uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the peas, bring to the boil and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the chopped potatoes are tender.
• Blend potato and pea mixture in batches until smooth.
• Serve soup with sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

MINTY PEA & POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then fry the onion for 5 mins until softened. Add the potatoes and stock, then bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 10-15 mins until tender, adding the peas 2 mins before the end of the cooking time.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove a quarter of the vegetables from the pan and set aside. Blend the remaining vegetables and stock in a food processor or using a hand blender until smooth, then stir through the reserved veg, chopped mint and some seasoning. Serve with bread on the side.