Make Ahead

Chilled Spring Pea Soup

by:
May 12, 2011
4.8
4 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

A recipe that celebrates spring through the use of peas. The garnish is spring-y too, since it uses pea shoots, chive blossom flowers (from my garden), and huge mint leaves (also from the garden!) It's a bowl of spring in a bowl. - VivekS —VivekS

Test Kitchen Notes

The cool colors of this velvety soup—pale green, deep emerald, lavender—had us at hello. It’s almost too beautiful to eat but when you do, you find it's light and subtle, a starter rather than a main. Those looking for more robust flavor may want to use chicken stock in lieu of water and up the garlic quotient ever so slightly. - Kukharka —mitschlag

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 4 cups water
  • 20 ounces fresh, shelled peas
  • 1/2 cup freshly chopped mint
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt
  • 1 cup pea shoots
  • 1/4 cup chive blossom flowers
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • extra virgin olive oil
Directions
  1. Get a pot over medium heat and add some olive oil. Saute the onion and garlic until translucent – do not brown. Season with salt and pepper and add water. Allow the water to come to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Add about 2 tablespoons of mint and all the peas. Cook the peas for about 8-10 minutes until they are bright green and tender. Season with salt and pepper and add 1/4 cup of mint.
  2. Transfer the soup to a blender and blend on high until completely pureed. Pass the soup through a strainer for a completely smooth soup. Set in the fridge for about 4 hours, or overnight, to chill.
  3. Combine the rest of the mint with the yogurt and mix with a spoon to combine.
  4. Ladle the soup into bowls. Put a dollop of minted yogurt on top. Toss the pea shoots with some olive oil and place on top of the yogurt. Scatter some of those chive blossom flowers around the bowl and dot with some extra virgin olive oil!

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Douglas Boyce
    Douglas Boyce
  • FoodieGoesHealthy
    FoodieGoesHealthy

2 Reviews

Douglas B. January 15, 2015
I served this soup luke warm and it was lovely. I also used fresh made chicken stock. The yogurt layer of this soup completes this recipe perfectly.
 
FoodieGoesHealthy May 26, 2011
Gorgeous presentation. Is this soup recipe tasty when served warm?