I could eat garden peas until they are coming out of my ears!
The tiny new ones are so fresh and sweet that they don’t even need cooking. They are delicious raw in salads.
Mint and Pea-pod Soup
Ingredients:
500grams of pea-pods
One red onion, finely sliced
Two sticks of celery, chopped
A heart of pak choi, chopped
One and a half litres of stock
A few leaves of fresh mint
A handful of peas
Olive oil for frying
Black pepper and Sea salt
Method:
- Fry the onion in olive oil in a heavy based saucepan until it has caramelised. I used a red onion because I love the flavour and they are supposed to be really good for anyone with allergies like me. If you want your soup to look even greener I would suggest using a white one.
- Meanwhile wash and top the pods, de-stringing if necessary...the younger the better..
- Once the onions are cooked, add the celery and pak choi and continue to cook for a couple of minutes.
- Add the hot stock and a couple of mint leaves, bring to the boil and simmer until the pods are tender.
- Blend the soup and then sieve into a jug or large bowl.
- Return to the pan or serving dish, check and adjust seasoning.
- Add the raw baby peas, or cooked larger ones and a couple mint leaves to garnish. It would also be lovely with a little double cream or creme fraiche.
This is a really lovely soup. It doesn't have the sweetness of pea soup, but a much earthier deeper flavour which is really complemented by the addition of the fresh uncooked peas...I'm so glad I didn't compost the pods....
...although I am a little concerned that I may be turning into a version of Barbara Good from the Goodlife!
...although I am a little concerned that I may be turning into a version of Barbara Good from the Goodlife!
Anyone for a glass of pea-pod 2011?
I must remember this recipe if I come across some fresh peas (I must admit I usually use frozen). We've been watching old episodes of The Good Life recently (Australia has just moved onto digital TV so we now have 16 free channels where we once had 5. Some of the new channels show lots of 1970s, 80s and 90s sitcoms as well as great old 40s and 50s movies. I love it!). I'd forgotten just how funny Margo was. I always found Tom and Barbara a bit annoying but Margo is truly hilarious!
ReplyDeleteMost of the year I use frozen ones...I always have some in the freezer. I think they taste just as good and are supposed to be as nutritional. I saw a program with Jimmy Doherty (an entomologist turned farmer and cook...old school friend of Jamie Oliver) following a huge mobile freezing machine that actually drives over the farm like an enormous combine harvester with people moving along with it and picking and then putting peas through the freezing process...amazing...actually frozen in the field within a very short space of time!!
ReplyDeleteBut I do think there is something very therapeutic about actually podding fresh peas by hand when they are in season...although it does take time.
Margo is the star of the show and I love Jerry's cool sense of humour. Some of those old shows are really good...I just caught an episode of Only Fools and Horses the other day and was amazed that it really was quite funny. Some of those old programs are very silly and although quite unpolitically correct, fun to watch.
I love the 40's and 50's movies...have you managed to catch anything with Margaret Rutherford in...or the original 1955 Lady Killers...I just love that film...