“The question of peas continues. The anticipation of eating them, the pleasure of having eaten them and the joy of eating them again are the three subjects that our princes have been discussing for four days … It has become a fashion – indeed, a passion”.

Madame de Maintenon, in a letter to the Cardinal of Noailles in 1696.

We thought the Parisian Prince’s laissez faire approach to the humble pea so great that we are renaming our favourite Pea Soup Recipe, “The Passion of Pea’s :: A Parisian Prince’s Perfect Pea Soup Recipe” (adapted from the Guardian):

Serves 4

30g butter
4 spring onions, chopped
2 rashers of smoked streaky bacon, chopped
450g shelled peas (about 1.2kg of pods) plus 5 pods
750ml water (or vegetable stock if you’re omitting the bacon)
Pinch of sugar, optional
Small bunch of mint, chopped and creme fraiche, to serve

1. Heat the butter over a medium heat in a large pan and add the spring onions and bacon. Sweat until cooked, but not coloured.

2. Add the peas and pods if using and stir well, then pour in 750ml water. Bring to the boil, then simmer until the peas are tender (about 10 minutes depending on size).

3. Remove the pods and puree the soup using a blender or hand blender then add the lemon juice and season to taste – you may also wish to add a pinch of sugar depending on the sweetness of your peas. Add a little more water if you’d prefer a thinner soup.

4. Reheat if serving hot and serve garnished with chopped mint and a swirl of creme fraiche.

 

Fresh, geometric and bursting with green goodness our Pea Pod design is available in tea towels, apron, double oven gloves, placemats, trays, cushions and canvas shopping tote.

 

All you need is Peas & Love x