Lettuce and pea soup - Food waste mission

Reduce Food waste mission

I forgot I had lettuce in the fridge!!!! 

I'd been food shopping on Saturday night with my mum, and we were able to pick up some bargains.  Food that was either near it's best before or use by date often gets reduced by shops to save it being binned.  In there own way even large supermarkets are trying to reduce there food waste. 

I freeze any chilled food that I don't plan to eat that day (Always check the packaging to see if the product can be frozen) Most vegetables can be frozen, however some are best cooked first.    Lettuce being one of those ingredients that doesn't really freeze well. 

Luckily the lettuce was still okay, since it was still in its packaging.  With the snow outside it's not the weather for eating salads, so I decided to make a soup instead.  It's one of those recipes you see celebrity chefs make, looks great but not something you'd cook for your self. 

The anxiety management therapy Iv been through, has made me more adventurous.  It's kind of like removing a sticky plaster better to rip it off quickly, than try to take it off slowely.  It just makes it more painful.  I'd rather know if something works or if I cope with certain situation, better to find out rather than make my anxiety worse by worrying about it. 

Some one once said I don't have fear in the kitchen.  Im always prepared to give something a go, this time it just happens to be lettuce soup.   Didn't really have high hopes for this one, lettuce soup just reminds me of people that go on extreme detox diets.   But what the hell, lets find out if it works. 

It did, not only was it edible it also tasted great.  Who would have thunk it!!!!

Sharabelles bargain lettuce and pea soup recipe

1 bag or head of lettuce
1 veggie stock cube, added to 500 ml's hot water to  make stock
1 cup of frozen peas
1 tbsp corn flour/starch to thicken soup
salt and pepper

- sweat the lettuce in the pan over a really low heat for a few mins.
- Add stock and cook for 10 mins
- After 10 mins add the frozen pea's, turn up the heat till the soup starts to boil again
- Lower heat and simmer for 10 more mins
- Use a hand blender to puree the soup, return to the heat and add salt and pepper
- Make a slurry with the corn flour and a little of the soup in a cup, stir to get rid of the lumps
- Slowely add the thickening mix into the soup, gives it a creamy texture with out adding dairy.
- Stir continuelly till you feel the soup thicken, double check your seasoning. 
- Serve when you happy with the taste

You don't really need fancy lettuce to make this soup, I made mine with iceburg lettuce. 

For a creamier soup try tarla dalal's recipe for lettuce soup  xxx