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This bright, thick Fresh Pea Soup St. Germain is a simple, satisfying soup with the full-flavor of freshly picked peas. The lovely pea flavor of this soup has just a hint of fresh leek and topped with crisp bacon crumbles.
This is one of those summer soups that is delicious on a hot summer day. It is just as wonderful hot or chilled. Take advantage of the fresh peas and enjoy this seasonal soup.
Why is this called Fresh Pea Soup St. Germain?
Fresh pea soup St. Germain is a traditional French soup that takes its name from Paris, France.
Fresh peas are grown in market gardens of the surrounding suburbs of St. Germain, France. At harvest, the peas are supplied to restaurants and local farmers’ markets.
Fresh Pea Soup St. Germain is also known as Potage St. Germain. The soup begins appearing on restaurant menus in the Paris suburbs in the early summer when the peas are just picked and at their best.
Fresh Peas:
These peas are from our backyard garden where we have been waiting for them to reach their ‘ready-to-pick’ stage. Summer is slow coming to our area of the country and the peas are one of the first pickings from the garden.
Peas have a short growing season in the cool days. They do not last long once the weather begins to heat up. Fresh peas are a chore to shell but the flavor of this soup makes it all worth the effort.
On these warm, busy summer days who wants to spend a lot of time cooking in the kitchen when they can be outside in some sunshine? This Fresh Pea Soup from St. Germain is an easy soup that takes less than thirty-minutes from start to finish.
How to make Fresh Pea Soup from St. Germain:
- To make this classic pea soup we first crisp-cooked a few strips of bacon.
- We reserved a bit of the bacon drippings to cook the leeks and garlic until soft.
- Add the chicken stock, peas, salt and white pepper to the pot and simmer for about ten minutes. Do not over cook as the peas will loose their bright green color.
- As soon as the peas are tender, transfer them and the broth into a blender, or food processor and whizz until smooth, reheat the soup and serve.
See, we told you it was easy! 🙂
On these hot summer days this thick, satisfying soup can be a meal in itself. Served with grilled sourdough bread and a crisp glass of Chardonnay wine.
More great soup recipes:
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Fresh Pea Soup St. Germain
If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and comment.
Ingredients
- 3 strips of bacon
- 2 medium leeks, sliced (white and light green only)
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 4 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned
- 3 cups freshly shelled peas, or 10-ounces package frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Fresh pea shoots or thyme leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Set a large saucepan over medium heat and add the bacon strips and cook until crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate and when cool, chop and reserve.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings into a heavy-bottomed saucepan set over medium heat and when it is hot add the sliced leeks and cook, stirring frequently until soft, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Add peas, reduce heat, and simmer until tender, about 7 to 10 minutes for fresh peas, about 5 to 8 minutes if using frozen peas. Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh thyme leaves and the lemon juice.
- With an immersion blender or regular blender, process the soup to a puree, thin with water or additional broth if desired.
- To serve, ladle into soup plates and garnish with the chopped bacon and pea shoots or thyme leaves.
Notes
- If using frozen peas, first thaw them and rinse with cold water
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
The juice of one lemon is way too much lemon juice. I thought as much and halved it and it’s still too much. Maybe a tablespoon?
You can definitely adjust the lemon juice if you are not a fan of the lemony flavor in the soup. There is usually about 2 to 3 tablespoons of juice in a lemon but it can vary depending on the lemon.
I absolutely love your recipe! I am writing vegetarian recipe round ups on my blog in 2019 for people who are trying to make more meat-free meals (everyone has to start somewhere). I would love to feature you. You can check out my blog (for beginner environmentalists) at sunshineguerrilla.com. Is it alright if I share this link to your recipe?
Hi, Barbara! Thanks for your kudos! Yes, absolutely and we are honored to be included in your blog. Thanks again for your comments. ❤️
What an exciting soup. You don’t know how much I love that you made this with pea shoots. Thanks again for the recipe.
You are very welcome, Ginny…..I do believe the season for fresh peas is finished for this year but I did see a bin of fresh pea shoots at the market today! And, those frozen baby green peas are almost as good as fresh! Thanks for your comments <3
Fresh peas are one of the most flavourful veggies out there, so I am so excited to hit the farmers market this weekend to try out this flavourful summery soup!
Hi, Joyce….I love going to the farmers markets! I hope you find some there, if not there’s always frozen that is almost as good. Enjoy 🙂
I’d love a little bowl of this right now…such a beautiful summer dish! Love this.
Thank you, Catherine 🙂
You are so lucky to have peas in your backyard!! I love pea soup so much, but haven’t tried this recipe! I can not wait!! Beautiful color and photos!
Thank you, Elaine…Go for it asap…. before the fresh pea season is over. 🙂
I’ve been really loving peas lately! I’ve yet to make pea soup, though – and yours sounds delicious.
Hi, Kelly! Give this a try, I think you will like it, if you don’t want the bacon crumbles on top a nice dollop of sour cream is delish! 🙂
Pea Soup from homegrown peas – how magical is your life! I can’t even imagine how amazing this soup must have been, so freshly made, as fresh as fresh can be!!!! <3 <3 <3
Thank you, Tina 🙂