FRESH PEA & LOVAGE SOUP

Fresh pea & lovage soup image

Lovage has a delicate celery-like flavour, but if you can't find it, substitute with mint. This soup is lovely either hot or chilled on a summer day

Provided by James Martin

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

approx 2.5kg fresh peas in their pods (or 900g/2lb podded or frozen), plus 8 whole pods to decorate
100g unsalted butter
175g spring onions
1 garlic clove , finely chopped
1 ½l vegetable stock
100g crème fraîche
bunch lovage (about 10 sprigs), leaves picked (or use a small bunch mint )
olive bread , thickly sliced, to serve

Steps:

Shell the peas, leaving 8 of the best-looking ones whole. Melt half the butter in a large pan, then gently cook the spring onions and garlic with the lid on for 5 mins, without colouring. Add the stock, bring to the boil, then add the peas and whole pods and simmer for 2-3 mins until tender.
Fish out the whole pods and refresh under cold water. Tip in the crème fraîche, then the lovage or mint, and blitz with a hand blender until smooth. Season to taste. Leave to cool, then chill in the fridge if serving cold.
If you're eating the soup hot, bring to a gentle simmer but don't boil. To serve, ladle into bowls, decorate each with a whole, split pea pod and serve with a stack of toasted olive bread on the side (toast your bread on the barbecue).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 251 calories, Fat 17 grams fat, SaturatedFat 10 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 16 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 9 grams protein, Sodium 0.25 milligram of sodium