Creamy Spring Pea Mint (Printable)

Silky spring pea and mint blend with lemon zest and crème fraîche for a fresh, vibrant taste.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

01 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 garlic clove, minced
04 - 4 cups fresh or frozen green peas
05 - 3 cups vegetable broth

→ Herbs & Dairy

06 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
07 - 1/2 cup crème fraîche, plus extra for garnish
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream

→ Seasonings

09 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - Zest of 1 lemon
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

# Directions:

01 - Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring until translucent but not browned.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
03 - Add peas and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5–7 minutes (3–5 minutes for frozen peas) until tender and bright green.
04 - Remove from heat. Add mint leaves, crème fraîche, and milk. Purée with immersion blender until smooth and creamy, or blend in batches using a countertop blender.
05 - Stir in lemon zest and juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. For extra-silky texture, pass through fine-mesh sieve.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Swirl each serving with a spoonful of crème fraîche and garnish with extra mint leaves.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in about 30 minutes but tastes like something you simmered all afternoon
  • The vibrant green color makes even a gray Tuesday feel like spring
  • Cool mint and tangy crème fraîche balance the sweetness perfectly
02 -
  • Overcooking the peas makes them dull instead of that bright jewel green we want
  • Blending hot soup too aggressively can make it splatter or develop a weird texture
  • Lemon juice is crucial not just for flavor but to keep that gorgeous green color
03 -
  • Work quickly once you add the lemon to preserve that bright green color
  • Make this a day ahead because the flavors actually get better overnight

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