Home Made Soup

Pea & Ham Soup

                         

Another one of my favourite soups and again very easy, you can tell by now I like non-complicated recipes. When I first did this recipe it was to use up some  peas and ham rather than throw it out. It's good to get into the kitchen and cook, but we don't want to be a slave to it do we?

Ingredients:

1tbsp butter

1 onion sliced

1 leek trimmed & sliced

1 litre vegetable stock****

450g / 1lb shelled peas****

200g lean ham (smoked if preferred)****

1 bay leaf

1tbsp fresh chopped tarragon (dried if fresh unavailable)

4tbsp double cream

salt and pepper to taste

Method:

* Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

* Add the onion and cook, stirring until slightly softened.

* Add the leek and cook for a further 2 minutes stirring together.

* Stir in the stock, then add the peas, ham, bay leaf and tarragon.

* Season with salt and pepper.

* Bring to the boil, turn heat down and simmer for another 30minutes.

* Remove the bay leaf and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

* Transfer half the soup to a food processor, or bowl and blend until it is smooth.

* Return to the pan with the rest of the soup, stir in the cream and cook over a low heat for another 5 minutes.

* Turn of the heat and ladle the soup into warmed bowls.

tastes better

Tips:

If home made vegetable stock is unavailable, then use a vegetable stock cube.

Frozen peas can be used as well.

If using smoked ham be cautious when adding salt. As some smoked hams can be salty.

* Serve with crusty rolls or french stick.

                                                                

Credit to Yahoo images:

Happy cooking Glo