Pea Puree

Pea Puree is what posh restaurants try to pass off as "Mushy Peas". While it is miles away from the traditional accompaniment to hot pies and fish and chips it is just as good in its own way. Proper Mushy Peas are a bit of an aquired taste but Pea Puree, having a cleaner fresh pea flavour, seems to appeal to a wider audience.

Ingredients:

500g frozen peas
65g butter
6 mint leaves
1 Small onion - peeled and finely chopped
1/2 pint vegetable stock (or water and stock cubes)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Defrost the frozen peas in a large pot filled with more than enough water to cover the peas. Strain the peas but reserve the water and bring it to the boil with one teaspoon of salt. Add the peas and bring back to the boil and cook for two minutes. Strain the peas then plunge them into a bowl containing ice-cold water.

2. Add half of the butter to a pan, add the onion and cook on a low heat until the onions are soft but not colored. Add the stock, bring to the boil take off the heat then add the mint.

3. Add this liquid to a food blender with the peas and remaining butter, then blitz, and season to taste. How coarse or smooth you want the puree is entirely a mattter of personal taste. For smooth simply blitz longer.