Minted Pea and Rocket Soup

, from Issue #54. September, 2015
Photography by Aaron McLean.
Minted Pea and Rocket Soup

I always have frozen peas on hand and this soup is the perfect example of what can be whipped up with a few pantry essentials and a couple of veg. I’ve topped it with a poached egg but the soup is delicious served as is, or try crumbled crispy bacon or a few crisp croutons.

Serves: 4-6

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil
small knob of butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 zucchini, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
200 grams potato, peeled and diced
3 cups vegetable or chicken stock
300 grams frozen minted peas
100 grams rocket leaves, well chopped
2 tablespoons cream, optional
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons each pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds, toasted

 

METHOD

Heat the oil and butter in a large saucepan and cook the onion, zucchini, garlic, cumin and potato with a good pinch of salt for 10 minutes, stirring often. Add the stock and simmer for 20 minutes until the potato is falling apart.

Add the peas and simmer for 5 minutes then add the rocket and turn until it’s all wilted down.  

Roughly mash some of the soup using an immersion blender or even a potato masher.

Reheat and stir in the cream before serving.

To serve: Ladle into shallow bowls and top each with a softly poached egg and a sprinkling of toasted seeds.