Why Our Fresh Pea Soup is Your Go-To Spring & Summer Dish

Imagine a homemade soup that brings together the best of seasonal produce with minimal effort. Our Fresh Pea Soup is precisely that—a delightful counterpart to the hearty winter soups, like a robust Granny’s split pea soup. It’s the ideal light starter for spring and summer, when you crave something refreshing yet satisfying.

This Green Pea Soup, elevated with delicate Serrano Ham (or Prosciutto) and a hint of cream, is designed for those who appreciate gourmet flavors without spending hours in the kitchen. In just about 5 minutes, your pan will be on the stove, beginning the delightful process of flavor blending. This isn’t just a quick recipe; it’s a healthy choice, brimming with fresh vegetables and boasting a beautiful, vibrant green color that makes it perfect for special occasions. Think Mother’s Day brunch, an elegant Easter spread, or a sophisticated dinner party. It also makes for a wonderfully satisfying and light lunch.

For an elevated experience, serve this exquisite soup with freshly baked Ciabatta, crispy croutons, and a smear of rich homemade garlic herb butter. These accompaniments enhance the soup’s delicate flavors and add a delightful textural contrast.

Essential Ingredients for Your Creamy Pea Soup with Prosciutto

Crafting this elegant Fresh Pea Soup requires a selection of simple yet high-quality ingredients. Each plays a crucial role in developing the soup’s distinctive flavor and creamy texture. You’ll find the precise measurements conveniently listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

• Shallot: The aromatic foundation of our soup. Shallots offer a more delicate and sweeter onion flavor compared to regular onions, contributing a nuanced depth. If unavailable, a finely diced yellow onion can be a suitable substitute, though the flavor profile will be slightly different.
• Fresh Green Peas: The star of the show! These delicious, sweet, and crunchy legumes are quintessential spring produce. Using fresh peas, when in season, yields the most vibrant flavor and color. They are delightful both raw and cooked. Frozen peas are a fantastic alternative when fresh are not available, ensuring you can enjoy this soup year-round.
• Chives: These thin, green stems are a mild, onion-like herb that not only enhance the soup’s flavor with their subtle piquancy but also add a beautiful pop of fresh green color as a garnish. Finely sliced spring onion can be used if chives are hard to find.
• Cream: Essential for achieving the luxurious, creamy texture that defines this soup. It enriches the flavor and provides a smooth mouthfeel. Heavy cream is preferred for its richness, but you can explore alternatives like crème fraîche or even a plant-based cream for dietary considerations.
• Unsalted Butter: Used for sautéing the shallots, butter adds a foundational richness and a subtle creamy undertone to the soup base, complementing the sweetness of the peas. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the dish.
• Chicken Stock: This liquid gold provides the body and depth of flavor for the soup. While store-bought chicken broth works, for the absolute best results, we highly recommend using homemade chicken broth. Its rich, nuanced flavor elevates the entire dish. If using a bouillon cube, remember to adjust water levels and seasoning accordingly. For a vegetarian option, quality vegetable broth is an excellent choice.
• Prosciutto: This exquisite Italian uncooked, unsmoked, and dry-cured raw ham is sliced thinly and adds a wonderful salty, savory counterpoint to the sweet peas. Its delicate texture and intense flavor make it an ideal garnish. Look for it in the deli section of your grocery store. Alternatives include Serrano ham or Parma ham, or even crispy bacon bits for a more rustic touch.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Creamy Fresh Pea Soup

Creating this delicious and elegant pea soup is surprisingly straightforward. Follow these simple steps to achieve a perfectly smooth and flavorful result. A detailed, printable recipe card is available at the very bottom of this blog post for your convenience.

1. Sauté the Shallot: Begin by melting the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely sliced shallot and sauté gently for about 2-3 minutes, or until it becomes translucent and fragrant. This step is crucial for building a flavorful base.
2. Add Broth and Peas: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, then add your fresh or frozen peas.
3. Simmer to Perfection: Let the soup simmer gently for 25 minutes. This allows the peas to become tender and for their sweet flavor to infuse into the broth.
4. Achieve Silky Smoothness: Carefully purée the soup using an immersion blender directly in the pot until completely smooth. Alternatively, you can transfer the soup in batches to a food processor or a regular blender.
5. Strain for Elegance: For an exceptionally refined and clear soup, strain the puréed soup through a coarse sieve (or a fine-mesh sieve for an even silkier texture) into a clean saucepan. Discard any remaining fibrous bits. This step truly elevates the soup’s texture.
6. Final Assembly & Serving: Reheat the strained soup briefly until it’s piping hot. Ladle the hot soup into individual bowls. For each serving, gently swirl in about half a spoonful of cream. Top with delicate strips of Prosciutto and a sprinkle of finely chopped chives for garnish.

Garnish with finely chopped chives for a fresh burst of color and a mild oniony note.
Serve this delightfully simple pea soup immediately alongside freshly baked croutons, thick slices of warm Ciabatta bread, and a generous dollop of homemade garlic herb butter for a truly satisfying meal.

Pro Tips for the Best Fresh Pea Soup

• For a Super Smooth Texture: While puréeing is important, straining the soup through a coarse sieve is highly recommended to remove any pea skins or fibrous material. This results in a beautifully clear, light, and incredibly smooth soup that feels truly elegant.
• Adjusting Consistency: If your soup turns out too thin for your liking, simply let it simmer a little longer over low heat to allow it to reduce and thicken. If it’s too thick, add a bit more chicken stock or water until you reach your desired consistency.
• Preventing Cream Curdling: Always add the cream to individual soup bowls right before serving, rather than stirring it into the entire pot of hot soup. The direct heat can sometimes cause cream to curdle, especially if you plan to store and reheat leftovers. If storing the soup, do so without the added cream and only incorporate it upon reheating and serving.
• Taste and Season: Always taste your soup before serving and adjust seasoning as needed. The flavor of your chicken stock, peas, and prosciutto can vary, so a final check ensures perfect balance. A pinch of salt and a grind of fresh black pepper can make a big difference.

Customize Your Fresh Pea Soup: Variations & Serving Suggestions

One of the joys of cooking is the ability to adapt recipes to your taste and what you have on hand. Our Fresh Pea Soup is wonderfully versatile, offering many ways to customize it.

Flavor Variations:

• Herbal Freshness: Beyond chives, consider adding fresh mint for a surprisingly refreshing twist, or a hint of fresh thyme or parsley to the creamy soup for an earthy note. Dill also pairs beautifully with peas.
• Extra Veggies: Boost the nutritional content and deepen the green color by adding about 6 cups (200 grams) of fresh spinach during the last few minutes of simmering, before blending. Leeks or celery can also be sautéed with the shallots for added complexity.
• A Touch of Spice: For a subtle warmth, add a tiny pinch of white pepper or a very small dash of cayenne pepper when seasoning.
• Citrus Brightness: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving can brighten all the flavors.

Dietary Adaptations:

• Vegetarian/Vegan: Easily make this soup vegetarian by substituting chicken stock with a high-quality homemade vegetable broth or store-bought vegetarian stock. For a vegan version, omit the butter (use olive oil instead) and the cream (opt for a plant-based cream like oat cream, cashew cream, or coconut milk). Remember to skip the Prosciutto entirely.
• Dairy-Free: Replace the dairy cream with unsweetened full-fat coconut milk for a rich, creamy, and dairy-free alternative. The subtle coconut flavor pairs surprisingly well with peas.

Serving & Accompaniment Ideas:

• Bread Pairings: While Ciabatta is excellent, any crusty artisan bread, focaccia, or even simple toasted sourdough can elevate your meal.
• Light Meal Combo: This soup makes a fantastic light lunch when paired with a fresh green salad or a simple, elegant sandwich.
• Gourmet Garnish: Aside from Prosciutto and chives, consider a drizzle of high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of toasted pumpkin seeds for crunch, or a few edible flowers for a truly sophisticated presentation.
• Temperature Versatility: While delightful served warm, this pea soup can also be chilled and served as a refreshing cold soup on a hot summer’s day.

Storage and Reheating Tips for Your Pea Soup

Our Fresh Pea Soup is not only delicious fresh but can also be prepared ahead of time and stored. To maintain its quality, particularly its creamy texture, it’s crucial to follow these storage guidelines:

• Before Adding Cream: If you intend to store the soup, whether in the refrigerator or freezer, it is vital not to add the cream beforehand. Cream can curdle when reheated, compromising the soup’s smooth consistency. Always add cream to individual portions just before serving.
• Refrigerator Storage: Pour the cooled soup (without cream) into an airtight container. It can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
• Freezer Storage: For longer preservation, transfer the cooled soup (without cream) into a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags. Leave about half an inch of headspace as the soup will expand slightly when frozen. This soup freezes beautifully and can be kept in the freezer for up to one month.
• Reheating: To reheat, gently warm the soup on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Alternatively, you can warm individual portions in the microwave. Once hot, then add your fresh cream and garnishes.

Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.

Need more inspiration?

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Andréa

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