Soups Day 1

A few years back my mum bought me a book called “SOUPS – over 200 of the best recipes”. I have to say I'm not a fan of cookery books, mainly because you have all these fancy recipes that require a pile of ingredients that are not in my cupboard!  But I really like this one.

I decided to share some of these here.......sort of a soup for every day of the week. So for Day 1.

YELLOW PEA SOUP WITH CHORIZO. A Spicey pulse-based soup. Serves 6

375g [12oz] split yellow peas, soaked overnight in cold water.

2 tablespoons Olive oil

Chorizo sausage, thinly sliced

1 Onion finely chopped

2 Garlic cloves finely chopped

1.2l [2 pints] Chicken Stock

900ml [1 1/2 pints] water

1 Bay leaf

1 Sprig of Thyme

3 Carrots, quartered and thinly sliced.

Salt

1. Drain the soaked peas and rinse
2. heat the oil in a large pan, add chorizo and cook on moderate heat for 5 mins until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon, leave to drain on kitchen roll. Retain 1 tablespoon of oil in pan.
3. Add onion and garlic cook on moderate heat for 5 mins until soft. Add peas, stock, water, bay leaf and thyme, bring to the boil, skimming off the scum. Reduce heat and partially cover and simmer stirring occasionally for 1 1/4 hours.
4. Add carrots and cook for a further 30 mins until tender. Season to taste. Remove the bay leaf and add chorizo, heat for a further 10 mins. Serve.