Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe

Fresh garden mint and sweet frozen peas elevate this French pea soup to a vibrant, springtime favorite you’ll always want in your healthy meal rotation. It’s delicious with warm crusty baguettes, goat cheese crostini, chilled white wine, smoked salmon; in fact most things.

Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe Ingredients

• 30 g butter
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 500 g frozen peas
• 1.25 litres vegetable or chicken stock
• 1/2 tsp caster sugar
• 2 large mint sprigs
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Shredded fresh mint, for garnish

How To Make Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe

1. Soften the onion: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a gentle heat. Add the coarsely chopped onion and cook very slowly, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent; make sure it does not take on any color, as you want to preserve the bright palette of the soup.
2. Build the soup base: Sprinkle in the flour and stir for another 1 to 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Add the frozen peas, the stock, and the caster sugar. Toss in the whole sprigs of mint, which will infuse the broth with a beautiful, aromatic freshness as it heats.
3. Simmer briefly: Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pan and simmer gently for just 5 minutes until the peas are tender. Be careful not to simmer any longer than this; overcooking will cause the peas to lose their stunning, fresh green color and turn a dull olive brown.
4. Smooth and purée: Remove the mint sprigs and discard them. Pour the soup into a food processor or blender and whiz until completely smooth and velvety. If you prefer a restaurant-quality finish, you can pass the purée through a fine-mesh sieve.
5. Season and garnish: Return the smooth soup to the rinsed-out pan and reheat it gently. Add salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve the soup piping hot in warmed bowls, garnished with a sprinkle of shredded fresh mint for a final burst of fragrance.

Recipe Tips

• How to keep the soup bright green: The secret is the short 5-minute simmer. If you leave the peas boiling for too long, the chlorophyll breaks down. Always have your blender ready so you can purée the soup as soon as the peas are soft.
• Why use caster sugar: Even though peas are naturally sweet, a tiny pinch of sugar helps to highlight that sweetness and balances the savory notes of the onion and stock.
• How to get a silkier texture: If your blender isn’t high-powered, pulse the soup for a full 2 minutes, then strain it through a sieve to remove any remaining pea skins.
• Best mint to use: Spearmint is the traditional choice for this French-style soup, but peppermint can work if you want a sharper, more cooling finish.

What To Serve With Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe?

This Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe is a light, elegant meal that needs a fresh or savory pairing! A warm French Baguette with salted butter is the classic choice for a simple lunch. For a more sophisticated touch, a few Goat Cheese Crostini add a lovely tangy creaminess that pairs perfectly with the sweet peas! A glass of Chilled Sauvignon Blanc or a Sparkling Elderflower Pressé pairs wonderfully with the minty, garden-fresh flavors.

How To Store Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe

• Refrigerate: Store the soup in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Be aware that the vibrant green color may fade slightly once reheated.
• Reheat: Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Do not let it boil for a long period, or the color and delicate mint flavor will diminish.
• Freeze: This soup freezes beautifully! Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 135 kcal
• Total Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg
• Sodium: 840 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Protein: 6 g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Mary Berry French Pea Soup Recipe

Recipe by Emily HartwoodCourse: SoupsCuisine: FrenchDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

135

kcal

A vibrant, velvety smooth pea soup infused with fresh mint and finished with a touch of butter for a classic French bistro flavor.

Ingredients

• 500 g frozen peas

• 1.25 L stock

• 30 g butter

• 1 large onion

• 1 tbsp flour

• 1/2 tsp sugar

• 2 mint sprigs

• Fresh mint for garnish

Directions

• Melt butter and cook onion for 10 minutes until soft but not colored.
• Stir in flour for 1 minute, then add peas, stock, sugar, and mint sprigs.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for exactly 5 minutes until peas are tender.
• Discard mint sprigs and purée the soup until completely smooth.
• Return to the pan, reheat, season, and garnish with shredded mint.

Notes

• Do not overcook the peas to maintain the bright green color.
• Use a hand blender or upright blender for a perfectly smooth texture.
• Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche for extra richness.