PEA IN POD RECIPES

Steps:

• Put the spring onions into a large pan with the potato, garlic and stock. Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potato is very soft. For the garnish, blanch 3 tbsp of the shelled peas in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, drain, put in a bowl of cold water and set aside. Add the remaining peas to the soup base and simmer for 5 minutes – no longer, or you will lose the lovely fresh flavour of the peas.
• Stir in the mint, sugar and lemon or lime juice, cool slightly then pour into a food processor or liquidiser and whizz until as smooth as you like. Stir in half the buttermilk or soured cream, taste and season with salt and pepper.
• To serve the soup cold, cool quickly, then chill – you may need to add more stock to the soup before serving as it will thicken as it cools. To serve hot, return the soup to the rinsed-out pan and reheat without boiling (to prevent the buttermilk or soured cream from curdling).
• Serve the soup in bowls, garnished with the remaining buttermilk and the drained peas.

Steps:

• Put the pasta in a pan of boiling water and cook according to the instructions on the packet. Drain, reserving 150ml of the pasta water.

  Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat and cook the onion and garlic for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the crème fraîche, lemon zest and juice and peas. Bring to a gentle simmer, then stir in the pasta along with the reserved cooking water.

  Stir through the salmon and half the chopped parsley. Divide between bowls and serve with the remaining parsley and freshly ground black pepper.