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February 18, 2012

Recipe: Pea and Pesto Soup

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Pea and Pesto Soup

I first saw this recipe on a Nigella Lawson cooking show. She’s my favorite celebrity chef, and I always enjoy trying out her recipes. This one is quick, simple and fairly low calorie for those of you who are on a diet.

Cooking 074

Ingredients:

750 ml water
375 g frozen peas
2 spring onions, trimmed but keep whole
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp lime juice
4 Tablespoons fresh pesto
2 Tablespoons pine nuts (optional)

Boil the kettle, and once the water is boiled measure out the correct amount of water into a pot. Bring back to the boil.

Add the frozen peas, spring onions, salt and lime juice to the pot. Cook everything for about 7 minutes.

Discard the spring onions and place hot liquid into a blender. Add the pesto at this stage. Blitz until soup is smooth. Toast the pine nuts in a small fry pan until they start to color. Sprinkle over the soup and serve.

Shelley’s notes:

1. This soup was delicious. I used a hand blender and my finished soup had a few chunky bits. I was fine with that since I like a little texture in my soups.

2. I didn’t have pine nuts, so I garnished mine with grated cheddar cheese and a dollop of non-fat yoghurt.

3. This soup served two.

Who is your favorite celebrity chef?

24 Comments

  1. Mary Kirkland

    That looks interesting.

    • Shelley Munro

      It was certainly very easy.

  2. caite@a lovely shore breeze

    what…another soup post? what is going on here today…a lot of soups?

    ..and I have pine nuts in the freezer!

    • Libby

      Hmm…I guess Ina is my fave. I love to watch Hell’s Kitchen though. :). Do you ever watch Anthony Bourdain? Great show…

      • Shelley Munro

        I watch him occasionally. We have a lot of UK shows down this end of the world, and I tend to watch them.

    • Shelley Munro

      I guess it’s soup weather :)

  3. Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook

    Love the soup recipe. Looks delicious, I love that it is simple but great flavor. Saving this, thanks!

    I made soup this week, too.

    • Shelley Munro

      This is the perfect dish if you’re in a hurry or have unexpected guests and need another course to bulk out the meal.

  4. JoAnn

    It’s definitely a soup weekend. This sounds delicious.

    • Shelley Munro

      Thanks for stopping by, JoAnn.

  5. Beth F

    I love Nigella Lawson and this soup would be perfect for a rushed weekday dinner. It’s easy and nutritious.

    • Shelley Munro

      I always laugh when she has her midnight snacks at the end of the show.

  6. Peggy Ann

    I will definitely be making this soup this week! I don’t watch many TV cooking shows anymore but I like Nigella and Giada De Laurentiis and Rachel Ray

    • Shelley Munro

      Peggy, I like all of those ladies too. I hope you enjoy the soup.

  7. Savannah Chase

    Ohh sounds yummy and something different..I will have to give this one a try..

    • Shelley Munro

      Let me know how it turns out if you try it, Savannah.

  8. Joy Weese Moll

    That’s a lovely color for a soup. My favorite celebrity chef of the moment is Mark Bittman.

    • Shelley Munro

      I wonder if this will work as a sneaky way to get kids to eat vegetables. I don’t have any to test it on.:)

  9. Nas

    This recipe for the soup sounds so yum!

    • Shelley Munro

      It is. The fresh pesto gives it a zing.

  10. Brinda

    I love watching Nigella cook. As for pea soup, it doesn’t tempt me. I do love pesto, but not peas. :)

    • Shelley Munro

      That’s funny. Most people like peas :)

  11. Heather

    I look forward to trying this soup. Thanks.

    • Shelley Munro

      I hope you enjoy it, Heather.