Chilled Summer Lettuce, Lovage and Garden Pea Soup

A delightful and refreshing chilled soup for summer - this savoury soup takes its flavour from freshly chopped lovage leaves, which impart a savoury, lemony and celery-like taste. I like to serve this pale green soup in clear glass bowls for maximum impact, with a few chopped leaves sprinkled on top and a swirl of cream. This soup makes an elegant starter for any summer event or a light luncheon dish. Do not be tempted to add more lovage then is suggested, it is a very strong flavoured herb and can be overpowering if used with a heavy hand!

• Ready In: 3 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 Bowls

Ingredients

• 4 -5  medium spring onions, trimmed and chopped
•  butter or  olive oil
• 1  large cos lettuce or 2  large  butterhead lettuce
• 250  g  fresh garden peas or 250  g  frozen peas
• 1  liter  vegetable stock
• 5 -6  leaves  fresh lovage, leaves (plus 4 more to garnish)
•  salt and pepper
•  cream, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Sweat the spring onions in the oil or butter until soft, then add the peas and lettuce. Pour over two-thirds of the stock, bring to the boil and simmer gently for 5 minutes, or until the peas are tender.
2. Remove from the heat and add the lovage leaves then blend the soup with a hand blender or in a liquidiser. Thin the soup to your preferred texture with the remaining stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Place the soup in a container and chill in the fridge for at least 2 to 3 hours. Serve chilled with chopped lovage leaves and a swirl of cream.