Pea soup with pancetta

Nigel Slater makes his simple pea soup recipe next-level with crisp, fried pancetta. So simple, but classy enough to serve as a dinner party starter.

Each serving provides 242kcal, 21g protein, 14.5g carbohydrate (of which 3.5g sugars), 10g fat (of which 4 6 saturates), 5g fibre and 1.6g salt.

By Nigel Slater

From Nigel Slater: Eating Together

Shopping list

Preparation time

less than 30 mins

Cooking time

less than 10 mins

Serves

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 litre/1¾ pints chicken stock
• 500g/1lb 2oz frozen peas
• 10g/½oz fresh tarragon leaves
• pinch salt
• 4 very thin slices pancetta (cut on the thinnest possible setting)

Method

1. Heat the chicken stock in a saucepan until it is simmering. Add the peas and simmer for 2 minutes, or until just tender. Stir in the tarragon and salt.
2. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and blend for a few short blasts to a rough-textured soup. Return the soup to the saucepan and keep warm over a low heat.
3. Using a pair of tongs, heat each slice of pancetta over the gas flame of your hob for a few seconds until it crisps up. (Alternatively, preheat your grill to its highest setting, lay the slices of pancetta onto a baking tray and grill for 1-2 minutes, or until crisp.)
4. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Break the crisp pancetta into pieces and sprinkle on top of the soup.