Harvest Pea Soup With Fennel

Ingredients

1,900 ml water
100 gr split peas
375 gr fennel bulb
100 gr celery
2 shallots
30 ml vegetable stock
2 gr basil
4 potatoes
400 gr peas
3 gr parsley
1 fennel sprigs

Instructions

Place water, split peas, fennel and celery in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. While the soup simmers, saute and shallots in the stock in a small skillet until they are translucent. If using dried basil, stir into the shallots, then remove from heat. Stir the shallots into the soup as it simmers. After it has simmered for 1 hour, puree the soup in batches in a blender. Return the blended soup to the pot. Add the potatoes and simmer for 15 minutes. Then add the peas and basil (if using fresh) and simmer until the peas are tender. Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat. Garnish with fennel sprigs if desired.