British Asparagus and Pea Spring Minestrone Soup
Serves: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 30g butter
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium-sized fennel bulb trimmed and thinly sliced
- 3 small carrots trimmed, peeled and cut into rounds
- 6 spring onions trimmed and cut into 3
- 150ml dry white wine
- 500ml good vegetable stock
- 250g British asparagus tips
- 150g fresh peas (podded weight) or frozen petit pois
- 5 tbsp finely chopped mixed herbs to include mint, chives and parsley
- 100ml double cream
- A squeeze of lemon
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
What to Do
Melt the oil and butter in a large pan. Add the fennel and carrots and stir over a gentle heat for about 5-6 minutes being careful not to burn.
Add the spring onion and cook until softened.
Pour in the white wine and reduce by half.
Add the vegetable stock and cook for a further 5 minutes on a low to moderate heat.
Add the asparagus and peas and cook for a further 5 minutes until tender.
Stir in the herbs and cream and season well with a squeeze of lemon juice, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
