Cream of leek & pea soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 375 g leeks slit and well washed then thinly sliced
- 375 g fresh shelled or frozen peas small bunch mint
- 900 ml vegetable stock
- or
- 900 ml chicken stock
- 150 g full-fat mascarpone cheese
- grated rind of 1 small lemon
- salt and pepper
To garnish
- mint leaves optional
- lemon rind curls optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the leeks, toss in the oil then cover and fry gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened but not coloured. Mix in the peas and cook briefly.
- Pour the stock into the pan, add a little salt and pepper then bring to the boil. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- Ladle half the soup into a blender or food processor, add all the mint and blend until smooth. Pour the purée back into the saucepan. Mix the mascarpone with half of the lemon rind, reserving the rest for a garnish. Spoon half the mixture into the soup, then reheat, stirring until the mascarpone has melted. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls, top with spoonfuls of the remaining mascarpone and a sprinkling of the remaining lemon rind. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon rind curls, if liked.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
For cream of leek, pea & watercress soup, use just 175 g peas and add a roughly chopped bunch of watercress. Simmer in 600 ml of stock then, instead of adding the mascarpone, stir in 150 ml (¼ pint) milk and 150 ml (¼ pint) double cream, drizzling a little extra cream over at the end and topping with some crispy grilled and chopped bacon to garnish.
