Lettuce And Pea Soup

What do you do when you have bought another lettuce, not realising you already had a couple in the fridge?  You make soup, of course.  Lettuce soup is an old French favourite, as is pea soup, so it seemed wise to throw them together in this one easy and delicious dish.  We ate this hot one night, and cold the next day; equally tasty!

such a beautiful pea green soup 

ingredients:


1 large onion, chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 small red chillies, finely sliced (optional)

2 tbs butter

1-2 tbs olive oil

170g. baby Cos or Gem leaves, torn up or shredded with a knife

300g. frozen baby peas - no need to thaw

3 spring onions (aka scallions), sliced thinly - you know, the long skinny things

800 mLs chicken or veg. stock

100 mLs cream 

2 tbs parsley or chives, chopped

black pepper to taste



Method:


Throw the onion, garlic and chillies (if using) into a large pan over a medium-low heat

Add the butter and olive oil

Give it a stir and sweat it down for about 8 minutes till tender - don't let it burn or stick

Tip in the lettuce, peas and spring onions, and stir it all together

Pour in the stock and let it simmer away for about 12-15 minutes, depending on whether the peas are frozen or thawed

Once the veggies are tender, let it cool down for 5-10 mins.

Grab a stick blender and give it a really good whizz; make it very smooth or not so, according to your preference

Now pour in the cream and whizz briefly again

Add the parsley, and grind in some black pepper to taste

Serve hot or chilled, as you wish



Notes:


Cos is known as Romaine in the USA

Play around with the amounts of lettuce and peas as you please

Salt is probably not needed due to the stock, but add if desired

ingredients gathered

sweating down your veggies 

grab your stick and blend:=) 

and blend till smooth

pour in the cream

delicious hot or cold

my pea doodle