Spinach Pea Soup

Dried pea and spinach soup is an uber green and super nutritious dish that can be a part of healthy recipes. It is ideal for the health-conscious. Serve this as a warming and comforting appetizer. Or enjoy it with crusty bread for a very light dinner. In this healthy recipe, the peas and spinach are cooked then passed through a sieve for a thick and smooth consistency. This soup has a sumptuous texture in the palate and tastes spectacular. Its bright green color gives instant delight to the eyes and the senses.

Before cooking dried peas need to be soaked for at least eight hours in cold water. This can be done overnight so that the peas are all ready to cook the next day. Substantial amount of cooking time will be saved by soaking the peas before cooking. However, do not soak the peas for more than ten hours or germination may occur. This may change the flavor of the peas. Before cooking the peas, pick over them to remove any stone, dirt or debris. And also to remove any discolored peas or those with blemishes. So that you can inspect them carefully spread them out on a clean surface. Place the sorted peas in a colander then wash and rinse them well under cold running water.

The soaked dried peas when boiled will collapse into a puree making a fantastic soup that has a wonderful texture. The spinach also adds a thick texture to the soup aside from a greener color. If the peas are pureed and the spinach has disintegrated into the liquid you will know the soup is ready. To make sure that any solid parts are squished pass the contents of the soup through a sieve to puree it even more. To puree the whole soup you can also use an immersion blender.

Ingredients

5 cups dried peas (soaked overnight)

1cup chopped spinach

1 onion, peeled

3 cups water

Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a pot add all ingredients and allow it to cook for 20-25 minutes. Keep stirring often.

2. Cover. Let it simmer on medium flame.

3. Add salt and pepper to taste towards the end. Stir well.

4. Pass the mixture through a sieve. Then heat it once again. In a soup bowl serve it hot.