Description
Cool summer days find comfort in this silky pea and mint soup, blending garden-fresh ingredients with classic French culinary elegance. Smooth, refreshing flavors dance across your palate, offering a light yet satisfying meal that celebrates seasonal simplicity.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Base:
- 1 large onion
- 1 kilogram (2 pounds 4 ounces) frozen petit pois
- 1 large bunch of fresh mint
Fats and Dairy:
- 100 grams (4 ounces) butter
- Creme fraiche, for serving
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 850 milliliters (1 1/2 pints) hot chicken or vegetable stock
- 12 tablespoons mint jelly
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Gently melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, creating a smooth, rich base for the soup.
- Introduce diced onions to the melted butter, allowing them to soften and become translucent for approximately 5 minutes.
- Incorporate fresh peas into the pan, lightly sautéing them to enhance their vibrant flavor for an additional 2 minutes.
- Pour in vegetable stock and submerge mint stalks, then cover the pan and let the mixture simmer for 8 minutes to infuse herbal notes.
- Remove mint stalks and stir in mint jelly, releasing its sweet aromatic essence throughout the liquid.
- Fold fresh mint leaves into the soup, ensuring an intense herbaceous profile.
- Transfer the mixture to a blender and process until achieving a velvety, uniform consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper, tasting carefully to balance the flavors.
- Serve immediately while piping hot, or chill for a refreshing cold version, garnishing with a delicate swirl of creme fraiche.
Notes
- Freezing this soup is a breeze, making it perfect for meal prepping or storing leftovers for up to 3 months.
- Enhance the soup’s protein content by adding a handful of cooked quinoa or stirring in some shredded rotisserie chicken.
- For a dairy-free version, swap butter with olive oil and use coconut cream instead of creme fraiche as a topping.
- Elevate the soup’s texture by garnishing with crispy pancetta bits or toasted pumpkin seeds for an unexpected crunch.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 327 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg