Sweet Pea Soup in Record Time

This is a delicious recipe that my family has been passing around. It is quick and easy to whip up in a flash. In less than 30 minutes you can have a homemade soup on the table. Serve it with fresh bread or some crackers.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1⁄3 cup butter
• 1  cup onion, coursely chopped
• 1  tablespoon flour
• 3 1⁄4 cups  chicken stock
• 2  cups  frozen peas (or use canned)
• 2  cups  packed fresh spinach leaves or 3  ounces frozen spinach, thawed and chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  hot curry powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon white pepper
• 1  cup half-and-half, heated (or use canned evaporated milk)
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 teaspoon lemon, zest of (optional)

Directions

1. In a 2 quart saucepan, melt butter.
2. Add onion and saute until soft.
3. Stir in flour and cook over low heat for a couple of minutes, being careful not to burn the butter and flour.
4. Whisk in chicken broth and bring to a boil, stirring flour off the bottom of the pan.
5. Add peas, spinach, and curry powder, salt, and white pepper.
6. Simmer for a couple of minutes.
7. Decant soup into a food processor bowl equipped with a steel blade, pour into a heat proof blender, or put a Braun Handmixer (or something similar) right into the pot.
8. Puree briefly.
9. Return to saucepan.
10. Add heated half and half.
11. Season with lemon zest to taste.
12. Heat through, and serve.
13. Garnish with fresh chopped chives and a dollap of sour cream if desired.