HEALTHY GREEN PEAS SOUP

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley
• 6 cups peas, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, “no-chicken” broth (see Note) or vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup half-and-half (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste.

PREPARATION

1. Heat butter and oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until the butter melts. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme (or parsley); cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds.
2. Stir in peas. Add water and broth; bring to a lively simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer and cook until very tender, about 1 minute.
3. Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir in half-and-half (if using), salt and pepper.

TIPS & NOTES

• Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

• Note: Chicken-flavored broth, a vegetarian broth despite its name, is preferable to vegetable broth in some recipes for its hearty, rich flavor. Sometimes called “no-chicken” broth, it can be found with the soups in the natural-foods section of most supermarkets.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 131 calories; 3 g fat (1 g sat, 2 g mono); 4 mg cholesterol; 18 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 7 g protein; 6 g fiber; 431 mg sodium; 419 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (28% daily value), Folate & Vitamin A (18% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat

THE BEST NUTRICIOUS SOUP....

SERVE HOT

HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!