Cold and Creamy Green Pea & Mint Soup

At the first hint of warm weather, I love to make this cold and creamy Green Pea & Mint Soup. Vibrant green in hue, the peas and fresh mint come together in perfect harmony. Positively bursting with flavour, it's like springtime in a bowl. The addition of buttermilk makes this soup light, healthy and delicious, and once puréed in a blender, the texture becomes silky smooth. A refreshing start to any meal, this soup is unbelievably easy to make and transports really well. I often bring it along for cottage country weekends, and simply store it in a plastic jug for the drive out of the city. When it's my turn to make lunch, I simply retrieve the jug from the refrigerator, discreetly pour the chilled soup into cups or bowls, and garnish with some chopped cucumber and fresh mint.

Chilled Green Pea & Mint Soup
Serves 4

2 tbsp butter
1 cup chopped onion
3 cups chicken stock
3 cups frozen peas
3 tbsp chopped mint, plus more for garnish
1 cup buttermilk
salt and white pepper to taste
1/4 cup English cucumber, diced for garnish


Heat butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté 3 minutes or until softened. Add chicken stock, peas, mint and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes or until the peas are tender. Pour in a blender and purée until smooth. Use a slotted spoon and pull out any stubborn peas that refused to cooperate, and discard. Stir in the buttermilk and season with salt and white pepper. Chill until needed. To serve, garnish with a sprig of mint, a spoonful of diced cucumber and a swirl of buttermilk if you like.