Recipe courtesy of Michael Chiarello

Spring Pea Soup

Name: Spring Pea Soup
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H45M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H45M0.000S
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 clove garlic, lightly crushed; 1 1/2 cups sliced leek, white and pale green parts only; 3/4 cup diced celery; 2 1/4 cups chicken stock mixed with 2 1/4 cups water; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 4 1/2 cups shelled English peas (about 4 1/2 pounds unshelled); 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley; 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves; 1/8 teaspoon powdered ascorbic acid (1 tablet vitamin C crushed); Sea salt, preferably gray salt; Freshly ground black pepper; Creme fraiche, basil oil, finely sliced fresh chives, or prosciutto bits, optional

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Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 45 min

Prep: 45 min
Inactive: 30 min
Cook: 30 min

Yield: 6 servings

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Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, lightly crushed

1 1/2 cups sliced leek, white and pale green parts only

3/4 cup diced celery

2 1/4 cups chicken stock mixed with 2 1/4 cups water

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 1/2 cups shelled English peas (about 4 1/2 pounds unshelled)

3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

1/8 teaspoon powdered ascorbic acid (1 tablet vitamin C crushed)

Sea salt, preferably gray salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Creme fraiche, basil oil, finely sliced fresh chives, or prosciutto bits, optional

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Add the garlic and let it sizzle for about 1 minute, then add the sliced white and pale green parts of the leek and celery. Stir often while cooking until the vegetables soften, about 8 minutes. Do not let them color. Then pour the diluted stock into the saucepan and bring to a simmer.
Add the cream to the vegetable mixture and bring to a simmer. Add the peas and return to a simmer. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the peas are just tender, about 8 minutes. Add the parsley and thyme and simmer for 1 minute longer, then remove from the heat. Transfer in batches to a blender with the ascorbic acid and puree, adding more of the stock-water mixture as needed to thin the soup to a pleasing consistency. Pour soup into a bowl set in an ice bath and stir until cooled. (we want to cool it down as quickly as possible) Serve soup with optional garnishes.

Cook’s Note

Ascorbic acid helps keep the green color in pureed herbs and vegetables. If you have vitamin C tablets on hand, just crush one with a rolling pin and add it to the mixture in the blender. Note that you'll need a blender to puree the soup. A food processor doesn't make it smooth enough.