Grammy's Recipe Book Soups

Pea Soup

Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 minstart to eating

Times are our estimates for Grammy's recipe, with unhurried prep.

Grammy's handwritten page for Pea Soup
Page 30 · full size

As written

Word for word from her page, with her spelling and line breaks. [?] marks a word we couldn't read.

Pea Soup

1 bag frozen peas
2 C water bring to boil
simmer 4 min
Blend 2 min
add heaping salt
1/4 c olive oil

Grammy's recipe

Her recipe, typed out to cook from: her amounts and her words, with abbreviations spelled out and the steps numbered.

Ingredients

  • 1 bag frozen peas
  • 2 cups water
  • A heaping pinch of salt
  • ¼ cup olive oil

Method

  1. Bring the water to a boil, add the peas, and simmer 4 minutes.
  2. Blend for 2 minutes.
  3. Add a heaping pinch of salt and the olive oil.

Modernized

A present-day cookbook version, with missing steps filled in. These are suggestions, not her words.

Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen peas
  • 2 cups water or vegetable broth
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ cup good olive oil, plus more to drizzle
  • A few fresh mint or basil leaves (optional)
  • Squeeze of lemon

Method

  1. Bring the water or broth to a boil. Add the peas and simmer 4 minutes, until just tender and still bright green.
  2. Pour into a blender with the salt and herbs. Blend 2 minutes, streaming in the olive oil, until very smooth. Vent the lid for hot liquids.
  3. Taste. Add salt and a squeeze of lemon.
  4. Serve hot or chilled, with a drizzle of olive oil.

Ideas to play with

Twists and variations to try. Suggestions, not hers.

  • Crispy topping

    Top with crumbled bacon or prosciutto crisped in a pan.

  • Creamy

    Swirl in a spoon of crème fraîche or Greek yogurt.

  • Chilled summer soup

    Chill it and serve in cups with the mint.

  • With croutons

    Top with Grammy’s garlic croutons.