Pea, cider and mint soup with crispy bacon croutons

Make the most of vibrant green peas in this simple, low-calorie soup topped with crispy bacon croutons.

Ingredients:

olive oil 2 tbsp

onion 1, finely chopped

garlic 2 cloves, finely chopped

cider 400ml

frozen peas 400g

chicken stock 400ml

mint a handful of leaves, chopped

BACON CROUTONS:

diced pancetta 77g pack

sourdough 2 slices, torn into chunks

Direction:

• STEP 1: Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the onion and a pinch of salt, and cook for  10 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Pour in the cider and reduce by ½ to evaporate the alcohol, then add the frozen peas and chicken stock. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add the mint and use a stick blender to whizz until completely smooth. Add a splash of boiling water if it’s a little thick. Season.
• STEP 2: Put the pancetta into a cold frying pan and gently heat until starting to crisp. Put the sourdough into a food processor and pulse until breadcrumbs, then tip into the pan. Cook until the breadcrumbs and bacon are really crisp.
• STEP 3: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the crispy breadcrumbs and bacon.

Credit to: olivemagazine