Sweet Pea Soup with Mint Pesto

Recipe by spry-editor

If you use frozen peas, buy the petite variety; they're sweeter than larger peas.

Ingredients

Pesto:: 1cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed; 1cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, loosely packed; 4-- garlic cloves; 1/2cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4cup blanched slivered almonds; 1cup grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese; 1teaspoon sea salt; 1/2teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Soup:: 2tablespoons unsalted butter; 2tablespoons olive oil; 1large yellow onion, chopped; 1 1/2pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (3 to 4 medium), peeled and chopped; 3-- celery stalks, chopped; 5cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth; 2cups shelled fresh or frozen green peas; 1-- head butterhead (Bibb) lettuce (about 4 cups, loosely packed); 3tablespoons chopped fresh mint; 2teaspoons sea salt; 1teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

To prepare pesto, place mint, parsley and garlic in a food processor. Pulse to roughly chop. With motor running, pour in olive oil. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add almonds, cheese, salt and pepper. Purée until smooth, about 1 minute. Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container up to 1 week.
To prepare soup, melt butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; reduce heat, and cook, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes and celery; cook 5 minutes.
Add broth and peas and bring to a low boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Add lettuce and simmer until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in mint, salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Cool slightly.
Working in batches, pour soup into a food processor or blender and purée until smooth. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve warm or chilled with a teaspoon of Mint Pesto spooned onto each serving. (You'll have pesto left over). The soup will keep, refrigerated in an airtight container, up to 3 days.

Reprinted with permission from Fresh Every Day: More Great Recipes from Foster’s Market by Sara Foster (Clarkson Potter Publishers, 2005).