Spring English Pea, Potato and Rice Soup

Some of my most vivid childhood memories revolve around my amama Miren wearing an apron (she always wore an apron) while peeling something. My grandmother’s peeling skills are legendary in our family and always a benchmark to compare ourselves to. Every time we make tortilla de patatas in our family, we check the leftover potato peels and judge what my grandmother would have thought of that. Nothing was ever wasted.

I remember her in the pastry shop’s kitchen, sitting on a stool with a large bowl of peas on her lap, peeling away while she watched everyone around her. Food took time and nothing was ever rushed.

J. is beginning to be very inquisitive about everything and anything around him these days. “Tell me the story of how you got these peas”, he asked the other day after we came home from the farmers market. He was there and he saw it, but for some reason he likes reliving it through my words. His curiosity is endless.

But I also realized that is something I do to my own mom often. Everyday I ask her to tell me stories from our past. Stories that she’s told me a million times and that I know by heart. I ask her about all the details and subtleties like I want to recreate the story in a visual way in my own head. I tend to do that a lot.

“Tell me about amama Antolina’s garden in Lezama, I asked her yesterday while we were peeling these English peas for lunch. Antolina was my great grandmother who raised six children as a widow during the times of the Spanish Civil War. They struggled, lost everything, but after years of hard work, they built an amazing home with the most beautiful garden. Baby heirloom potatoes, walnuts, apples, wild strawberries, leeks, honey bees, peas, cherry trees… My great uncle and aunt still live in that house and still maintain that garden.

We got these organic peas from our farmers market last Sunday. I told my mom, “I feel like patatas en salsa verde”. It is a soup we grew up eating, with english peas, potatoes, rice, lots of garlic and parsley and often times a raw egg yolk quickly whisked into the soup. I used to love the raw egg yolk in there and to this day is one of my favorite Spring time soups.

English Pea, Potato and Rice Soup (Patatas en Salsa Verde)

Makes enough for 4 people

2 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
7-8 small yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 Tbs parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup white wine
1 qt water (enough to cover and a bit more)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen english peas
2 Tbs arborio or bomba rice
1 tsp salt
4 eggs, soft boil (optional)

In a large pot, heat the olive oil with the garlic. Cook for about a minute on medium heat. We don’t want it to turn brown, just lightly cook. Add the sliced potatoes and cook them in the olive oil for about 2 minutes until you feel they are starting to stick to the pan. Add the chopped parsley and stir.

Add the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Cover with water, add the peas, rice and salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium and let it simmer for about 20 minutes until potatoes are tender. taste and adjust salt.

Serve with eggs if desired, fresh parsley, cilantro flowers and toasted bread.


you may also like…


90 Responses to “Spring English Pea, Potato and Rice Soup”

  1. frogsandmen says:

    what beautiful pictures for spring!

    i also love raw egg yolk…..must try this soon!

    à bientôt
    the paris food blague

  2. ibb says:

    Nik ere amama gogoratzen diat idarrekin, guk beti lagundu nahi gendun, amamak hitzegiten zuen bitartean.
    Istorio zaharrak entzuteko, ahal badezu, http://www.ahotsak.com
    Nire amama dau hor, Aramaion, Domeke Elexpuru izenekoa. Maite diat oraindik hor egoteak.
    Arroza, idar eta patatekin…probatu beharko diat.

  3. ainara says:

    Gaur igual jango dodaz nik be patatas en salsa verde… Mmm… Ta arrozagaz probeko dot :)
    Eskerrik asko gogoratuteagaitik. Mosu bat! a.

  4. Beautiful again :) Your soup is great to celebrate spring that everybody is craving for coming!!

  5. Carmen says:

    j,j mis abuelitas siempre tienen el mandil y pelan patatas y lo que sea mirando la tele, hablando, contando historias…como si nada.

    otra receta rica!!
    bso Carmen

  6. Maria says:

    I just love your blog! Beautiful pictures! I’m so glad I found it!

    Best regards
    Maria

  7. Curra says:

    Preciosa entrada, estupenda receta y maravillosas fotos.
    Besos

  8. Hi, I’m valeria from Italy! I read your blog and admire your wonderful photos since quite a long time, but I’ve never written a comment yet…Today I’ve seen this wonderful soup and I thought “Oh, rice and beans”, like out traditional soup here in Venice! :) we don’t use potatoes and sometimes we add small pieces of bacon or ham to give more flavour (it’s an old recipe and in the past soups always had a “strong” ingredient to give energy! :D), but it’s quite the same idea! :D very interesting to know that it is a spring recipe in England, too! :D

  9. That soup looks splendid and your pictures are mindblowing!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  10. Wow you make everything look so fresh and beautiful! This sounds like awesome comfort food. I am all about comfort food =) Thanks for this! Might try it sometime. – Clare

  11. Juls says:

    Stunning, as usual! It seems such a comforting and fresh soup, it reminds me of this spring that doesn’t want to come, at least here in Italy!

  12. Hilda says:

    I love that surface, so beautiful as I said before with the gray and the green. It almost looks old copper in a way. Anyway, I am most definitely making this for us soon as I love all the ingredients in this soup. In Persian cooking you often add a raw egg into rice right when you eat it, so yummy. The pictures are staggeringly gorgeous.

  13. ThiliBlooms says:

    Beautiful stories and pictures! The soup looks delicious :)
    Have a wonderful week!

  14. Oh the first peas! Always waiting for them. They so much mean spring to me. The soup sounds very tasty!

  15. Rowaida says:

    Your photos are gorgeous Aran and the recipes looks delicious, certainly will do it.

  16. enila says:

    ça sent le printemps et la fraîcheur ! Merci pour ces belles photos et ces petites histoires ^^

  17. Ibb- ai ama… zelako proeiktu polite!!! entzun eta entzun ibili naz ointxe bertan. amama maja dekozue oindino ezta? herri desberdinetako euskerea entzuteak asko emozionetan nau benetan. negarrak be urten dozte. eskerrik asko!

    Thank you everyone!

  18. aran the photographs in this post are absolutely stunning. delicate and light my favorite of all time!

  19. The soup looks so flavorful!

  20. Prerna says:

    Your pictures never fail to make me try the recipe..It must be strange to hear but I’ve never tried making a soup although I loveee to eat them but I guess this time the case would be different.
    Everything looks so yummy!

  21. Such a nice story and the soup looks really tasty.

  22. Ash says:

    This just looks utterly amazing!! I must must try it!!

  23. RV says:

    Each picture of yours tells me a story. Great clicks and the soup looks so refreshing.

  24. m says:

    Thanks for sharing about your amama! The pictures are beautiful.

  25. poonam!! says:

    I always look forward to ur posts and this looks amazing! love the pictures,,

  26. L Vanel says:

    Absolutely gorgeous, the images you capture with both your words and your camera. A great post today. Thank you.

  27. anon says:

    stunningly beautiful.. love love love!

  28. cindy* says:

    gorgeous! what a perfect springtime soup…i love that J. asks you to tell him stories…so sweet!

  29. Matt says:

    wow, incredible stuff. I wish english peas were with us now! you are so lucky. Amazing photos as usual – love the light, but yet nothing is too blown out – real depth and contrast. lovely.

  30. Vir says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  31. Con estas fotos no hay quien se resista…y pensar q no he preparado nunca este plato…ahora mismo me lo apunto!

    Un abrazo,

  32. Thanks, for bringing back wonderful memories of my grandmother. She always wore an apron, always. I have an old black and white picture of her, in her apron, sitting in the sunshine peeling fresh peas. Never anything was wasted or thrown away. She survived both World Wars in Germany.
    Thanks for the great recipes.

  33. rosanna says:

    Qué delicia de sopa! Y las fotos tan excelentes como siempre. Estas tienen un aire tan promaveral y delicado… tan adecuado para la primavera incipiente que estamos viviendo!
    Esta receta la probaré.

  34. Jeanne says:

    C’est magnifique! Merci pour ces images! :)

  35. Sirocco says:

    Wow, now this just makes me hungry! I love soup and I absolutely love fresh peas.
    Thanks for sharing your beautiful moments with us.

  36. My grand-mother was always wearing her apron as well. She was not shelling peas, she was preparing French string beans…
    The soup looks delicious! And the pictures are beautiful! As always.

  37. Kimberley says:

    That’s just about the prettiest soup I’ve ever seen. I am so excited for fresh peas right now, can’t wait to try this or a variation inspired by it!

  38. My late grandmother had scary, incredible peeling skills too – must be a prerequisite for grannyhood! I love the story about your great-grandmother Antolina and wish I could see her beautiful garden. Anything with a runny egg yolk is A-OK in my book…your soup is simply divine, Aran! xo.

  39. chasa says:

    Green food never looked so good :) Very fitting for Spring!
    http://rubypr.com/blog

  40. SimonHaestoe says:

    I can’t put the finger on what makes the look of your blog so compelling… I think it’s how the colors of the post title (looking at Cherry Blossom…) fits so well with the picture underneath.

    would be cool if you, and everyone else here, would take a look at my blog on http://www.tastyshrimpsalad.blogspot.com

    If you like it and link it, tell me! I’ll link to you to :).

  41. Such a lovely soup that welcomes “welcome spring!”

  42. El says:

    It is so adorable how J is imitating you. And the soup…amazing…

  43. Nikki says:

    There are truly no words that can describe the beauty of your photography, simply stunning!

  44. Sprout says:

    There is nothing that makes you think more than when a kid asks a simple question. Upon my college graduation my nephew asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I’m still answering that question today!

    Great story, thanks for sharing!

  45. MeetaK says:

    a perfect soup for spring – peas are really amongst my favorite vegetables and love adding them to almost anything. i too have so vivid memories of my grandmother sitting on the veranda peeling veggies and fruit for the next meal!

  46. Lovely pictures as ever, I noticed today though a backdrop I’d not seen before, the textured jade green. It’s beautiful.

  47. Deeba PAB says:

    A celebration of Spring and all things good. Love the connect…food and memories at their very best Aran!

  48. Flo says:

    Se ve tan lindo y tan delicioso!
    Lo haré a la brevedad.

    Saludos!

  49. What a beautiful blog and beautiful pictures, spring is coming at last!!

  50. Esther says:

    Your blog is amazing! I discovered your site a few months ago and cannot say enough about the pictures, the recipes…gorgeous! I’ve re-created several of your delicious concoctions, including yesterday’s pea, potato & rice soup. My favorite is the quinoa pudding. Thanks for sharing your beautiful world with us!

  51. Aniko says:

    Wonderful photos as usual !
    Ciao
    Aniko

  52. Esther- it makes me so happy when I read others have tried my recipes and have enjoyed themas much as I have. Thank you!

    And thank you all for taking the time to comment!

  53. John says:

    What a great recipe!! Whats not to like about those ingredients. I also appreciate your food styling and photo technique. Thanks for a killer recipe.

    Gourmet Jack

  54. Anonymous says:

    Zelako txikitako oroitzapen politak…

  55. photos are beautiful! (of course, you hear that all the time). but aside from that, the story of the memories you cherish are so endearing! great recipe, too.

  56. tiina says:

    So pretty and springy! I love fresh peas, can’t wait until they are in season here. Leaving your blog again so inspired – thank you!

  57. Anonymous says:

    Zorionak Aran. Gero ta argazki politagoak!

  58. Patty says:

    What a lovely story! All of my best childhood memories are about cooking with my mom ;) Thanks for the recipe!

  59. “””””” Superb Styling “”””””

  60. Dajda says:

    I don’t know which I like more – your photos or your stories. Thank you for sharing!

  61. Anonymous says:

    you are my hero

  62. Anonymous says:

    Aran, muchísimas felicidades por el blog. Las descripciones, las fotos, las historias, las recetas…son sensacionales. Te sigo fielmente desde Barcelona.
    Bona sort!
    T.

  63. T- muchas gracias! Lo aprecio de verdad.

    Thank you everyone and I hope you had avgreat beginning of spring!

  64. Liz says:

    I cannot even tell you how beautiful and delicious the food looks and how wonderful the words with it are.

    This is right now at the top of my list of food to make. I love everything about it.

  65. Fabulous mix of tastes. Would love to try that.

  66. Credit Score says:

    Nicely done, very delicious and inviting looking. Thank you for posting.

  67. Thank you for evoking so many of my own memories of my grandmother, whose peeling skills were famous, and who use to come peel potatoes and shell peas every afternoon while my aunt manned the Belgian pastry shop I grew up in!

    I can’t wait to try this soup when our peas will be ripe for picking.

  68. Alelunetta says:

    Oh che buona! A wonderful soup, intriguing flavours, it reminds me of my mother’s sicilian soup made with spring veggies like fresh peas, artichokes,…and sauvage fennel that she learned from my grandmother! Thanks. Brava. Hugs from Italy

  69. Traci says:

    I recently came across your blog and find it so inspiring and refreshing. I am definitely planning to make this soup (peas, rice, potatoes and garlic…yum!). I was just wondering about the photos with the creamy soup in the glasses. Is that the same soup, just puréed?
    -Traci

  70. xi0NA says:

    Salut, Avant mon site c’etait xFashion-Police mais j’ai changer ! maintenant c’est GentillexGarce.canalblog.com J’aimerais bien que tu passe faire un tour & laisser quelques petits commentaires ce serait simpa. En tout cas bonne continuation pour ton blog il est super ! Bisouu ♥ & désolé de la pub

  71. Traci- yes, that is the same soup pureed. Drizzle of olive oil and some hers on top. Simple! Thank you!

    Thank you all! Have a great weekend!

  72. Jamie says:

    What beautiful stories and it is so wonderful that your son asks for them. Family lore handed down across the generations. And this soup is perfect!

  73. Absolutely beautiful. I love Spring. Can’t wait to try this recipe.

  74. Angela says:

    This looks lovely. I’m growing some English peas in my vegetable garden right now. I can’t wait to make this after I harvest. Tastes like Spring!

  75. Melanie says:

    Absolutely beautiful. I am going to try this recipe this week, thanks for the inspiration!

  76. Wow really spring…Yummy Yummy

  77. Katarina från Sverige says:

    Tack för ett mycket inspirerande recept och en trevlig berättelse. Jag ska prova denna soppa idag. ;D

  78. Hi! I borrowed your spring peas soup for my blog. I love your pictures and your wonderful desserts (even if I am not a cake baker..
    I also love – a lot – Basque country. I’ve been there a few times and Donostia took my heart forever.
    Daniela

  79. jani says:

    Hello, lovely blog, and photos. Just wondering if the egg added is cooked in the soup or if you added a soft-boiled egg at the end?
    I’m definitely going to make this, it looks wonderful and nourishing to the soul too.
    thanks!
    jani

  80. Jani- when we were kids, my mom used to stir in a raw egg yolk into the hot soup (off the stove). for this recipe, i just soft cooked the eggs and then added them, but you could also poach it in the soup while it’s simmering. so many options :)

  81. Amy says:

    Nice recipe for spring..The food looks delicious and unique..I wanna try it at home :) Thanks a lot.

  82. Carrie says:

    I tend to think of soup as a winter food, but this English pea, potato, and rice soup from Cannelle et Vanille is just bursting with spring flavor.

  83. Lisa says:

    I made this soup a few days ago for lunch, sprinkled with bit of green onion on top, and it was heavenly! The simple pleasures of peas in the summer… thank you for a wonderful recipe!

  84. Have read a lot of post for a couple of hours already and I must say that your blog is one of my bet. Thanks for sharing your recipe. The photos are lovely, looks so fresh and delicious.

  85. I absolutely love this recipe– I actually credit you for recreating it myself on my blog (http://thebeetreporter.blog.com/2011/02/15/english-style-potato-soup/). I loved how simple and hearty it was, perfect for a winter reality-check.

    Thanks for the great recipes, beautiful photos, and constant inspiration in the kitchen!

  86. Thank you for the tasty meal you shared. Glad to find sites likes this, people sharing knowledges about something. Another recipe is again added to my list.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.