Pea and Mint soup can be great for a dinner party starter. This will serve four, if your are catering for more guests then work the ingredients in doubles to help with the consistancy.

Preparation Time: 10mins

Cooking Time: 20mins

Ingredients:

1 tbsp butter

1 sprigs of fresh mint, to garnish

3 shallots, chopped

1 slices or wholemeal bread,

2 leeks, trimmed and finely chopped

1 potato, peeled and chopped

450 g/1 lb frozen peas

2 tbsp chopped fresh mint

850 ml/1 >2 pints vegetable stock salt and pepper

Method:

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the leeks and cook, stirring, for a further 2 minutes. Add the potato, peas, chopped mint and stock, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

Transfer the soup into a food processor and blend until smooth (you may need to do this in batches). Return to the saucepan, season with salt and pepper and reheat gently.

Remove from the heat and pour into serving bowls. Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint and serve with slices of fresh wholemeal bread.

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