Cardamom Pea Soup Recipes

Steps:

• In a 3 to 4-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onion and ginger in butter and olive oil, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened.
• While stirring the mixture, add the cardamom and cook for 30 seconds - do not overcook.
• Add the chicken broth, increase temperature to high, and bring to a boil.
• Stir in the frozen peas, decrease temperature to medium, and simmer for about 10 minutes and the peas are very tender.
• Pour mixture into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth, in batches if necessary, about 1 minute per batch.
• Strain the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids and skimming the liquid from the bottom of the sieve; discard solids.
• Return the puree to the saucepan, season to taste with salt and pepper, and reheat.
• Swirl a tablespoon of creme fraiche or heavy cream into each serving, serve, and enjoy!

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss the shrimp with the cumin, cardamom, garlic, coriander, cinnamon, clove, salt and cayenne pepper. Marinate refrigerated for one hour. For the soup: In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic ginger root and jalapeno. Saute for two minutes, stirring. Add the split peas, coriander, cumin, celery seed, cinnamon and clove. Mix well. Add the chicken stock, stir again, and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer slowly, partially covered, for about one hour, or until split peas are just soft. You may need to add more chicken stock if the peas become too thick and dry.
• While the soup is cooking, prepare the relish, toss all six ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste. When the soup is ready, butterfly the marinated shrimp, removing the veins. Place in a heavy saute pan over medium high heat. Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil, swirling around the pan. Add the shrimp, cut side down, and saute for 2-3 minutes, or until just cooked. Turn the shrimp over, and cook the spiced side for 1 minute. Remove from pan. With a wooden spoon, crush a few of the soft peas in the soup against the side of the pot. Stir well. If the soup looks too thick, add a little chicken stock. Season to taste. Ladle hot soup into four wide soup bowls. Mix in most of the tomato relish, saving about 1/4 cup. Place three shrimp in the center of each bowl. Divide the remaining tomato relish among four bowls, placing it in the center of the shrimp. Top that with a few fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
• Recommended Wine: Scharffenberger Brut

Steps:

• Cook onion and ginger in butter in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened. Add cardamom and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add peas and simmer, uncovered, until very tender, about 10 minutes. Purée soup in 3 batches in a blender until very smooth, at least 1 minute per batch (use caution when blending hot liquids). Return to pan, then season with salt and pepper and reheat.

Steps:

• If using bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel. Once cool, crumble and set aside for garnish. If using ham hock: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then brown the ham hock until golden, about 6 minutes. If making the soup vegetarian: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil.
• Add the onion, leeks and garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. (If the vegetables seem dry, add a little olive oil.) Stir in the carrots, paprika (if using), half the split peas, thyme and 8 cups stock or water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes until peas are tender.
• Mash the soup coarsely with a potato masher or give it a few quick blitzes with an immersion blender (watch out for the thyme sprigs). If you'd prefer a smoother soup, blitz until nearly smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 pound split peas and simmer about 1 hour, or until the peas are soft. If at any point the soup looks too thick, add more stock or water; if it looks too thin, remove the lid during the second simmer until it thickens. If using ham hocks, remove any meat from the bone, cut it into small cubes and stir into the soup. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with crumbled bacon, if using, and lemon wedges.