Mary Berry declared there is “no better soup flavour and no better soup colour” to enjoy than her pea and mint soup.
Described as the “very best soup” to have, you can replicate Mary Berry’s success in as little as 15 minutes.
With enough helpings to serve six people, you can feed a family for the evening, or keep a lot back for fresh, ready-made soup whenever you fancy.
The soup “freezes well” and can be reheated in a pan whenever you want a bowl of goodness.
To continue (or start) a healthy diet, here’s how to make Mary Berry’s pea and mint soup.
Ingredients
- 100g (4oz) butter
- One large onion, roughly chopped
- 1kg (2lb 4 oz) frozen petit pois
- 850ml (1 ½ pints) hot chicken or vegetable stock
- A large bunch of fresh mint
- One to two tbsp mint jelly
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- A little crème fraiche, to serve
Method
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a high heat. Add the onion and fry for about five minutes, stirring.
2. Add the peas and fry for a further couple of minutes. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil.
3. Remove the leaves from the mint stalks and set them aside. Add the stalks to the pan and bring back to the boil.
4. Cover and simmer for about five to eight minutes, or until the peas are tender.
5. Stir in the mint jelly, remove and discard the mint stalks and stir in the mint leaves. Spoon into a processor and whiz until smooth.
6. Return to the pan, season with salt and pepper and serve hot or cold, garnished with a swirl of crème fraiche, and some crusty bread.
Health benefits of peas
Dietician nutritionist Imashi Fernando verified that peas are nutritious as they contain “a fair amount of fibre and antioxidants”.
Peas are legumes that provide vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, and iron.
Low in calories, but filling, peas help support good blood sugar control and due to their fibre content, they can help aid digestion.
Not only that, peas contain heart-healthy nutrients, such as magnesium, calcium and potassium.
Heart-healthy nutrients help to protect the heart against disease, which is a strong reason to enjoy Mary Berry’s pea and mint soup.
