Serves 6

Ingredients

•  2 Tbsp olive oil
• 20g unsalted butter
• 2 small onions, peeled and finely sliced
• 2 leeks, trimmed and finely sliced (optional)
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped (optional)
• 600g frozen peas
• 1L chicken stock
• 2 Tbsp sour cream
• 1 Tbsp cornflour, mixed to a paste in a little cold water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 sprigs fresh mint
• 4 tsp creme fraîche to serve

Method

1. Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan and then add the leeks, onions and garlic and sauté over a low heat for 5 minutes.
2. Using a medium saucepan, pour the chicken stock over the frozen peas and boil gently for ten minutes.
3. Add the onion mixture to the boiled peas.
4. Remove from the heat and use a blender to process the soup as finely as you can.
5. Pass the soup through a fine sieve and discard the dry pulp.
6. Transfer the soup back to the pot and reheat gently. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
7. Thicken the soup with the corn flour mixture and then stir in the sour cream.
8. Pour the soup into serving bowls topped with mint leaves and and crème fraîche.
   
9. Serve with warm crusty bread.