Pea and Lettuce Soup with Cucumber and Wasabi Flavour Pearls

A small bowl of soup to start a meal somehow makes it more of an event. A little old fashioned perhaps but I kinda like that! Our Pea and Lettuce Soup with Cucumber and Wasabi Flavour Pearls is an adaptation of a French Classic. The addition of our Cucumber and Wasabi Flavour Pearls makes for a deliciously fun garnish.

What you’ll need

• 4 Cups frozen Peas
• 1 Onion – diced
• 2 Cloves Garlic – crush
• Olive Oil – a good splash
• 1.5 Ltrs Stock – we used Vegetable but Chicken is also great (you may need a little more or less depending on how thick you want it – water is ok if you run out)
• Wasabi Powder or Paste – to taste or not
• Lettuce – we used 1 small cos – give it a good wash (around 1 to 1.5 cups chopped)
• Coconut Milk – 1/4 to 1/2 cup
• Cucumber (for garnish)
• Salt and Pepper
• Dill, Coriander or other soft herb (for garnish)
• Cucumber and Wasabi Flavour Pearls

Lets get started

Pop a pot onto the stove large enough for around 3 litres of soup. Heat the pot and add in a good splash of olive oil. Once hot add in the diced onions and garlic. Cook until it begins to caramelize a little (go brown). Add in the peas and enough stock to cover them. Bring to a gentle simmer for a couple of minutes. The peas just need to get hot. If you cook them for too long they will go an awful colour.

Next

Whilst you are waiting for the soup to cook you can prepare the cucumber for garnish. We used a spiralizer (bought one from Kmart). You just want to end up with thin strands of the cucumber flesh without the seeds. If you wish you could just peel and julienne the cucumber to achieve this. Lightly salt the cucumber and set aside until required.

Once the soup has boiled you can add in the chopped and washed lettuce, Wasabi to taste and also salt and pepper. Cook for another minute until the lettuce has wilted. Using a stick blender blend until it’s nice and smooth. If you wish you can also pass it through a sieve/chinois. This can be put into the fridge for serving later or a day or so later if you wish.

Ready to serve

Pop the soup onto the stove again. Bring it to the boil. Add Coconut Milk and additional stock or water to get to your desired consistency. Check the seasoning. Bland soup won’t make anyone happy! Ladle soup into each bowl. Top with a little ‘nest’ of the julienne or spiralized cucumber. Add a spoonful of Cucumber and Wasabi Flavour Pearls and a herb garnish.

Tah dah…

Until next time

Enjoy…from the Peninsula Larder Team

**Take a peek at our other flavours, just click HERE There are plenty of others to choose from

Soup puts the heart at ease, calms down the violence of hunger, eliminates the tension of the day, and awakens and refines the appetite.

Auguste Escoffier