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Pea Bisque with Shrimp and Tarragon

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

1

/2 pound green split peas, picked over and rinsed

2

8-ounce bottles clam juice

6

cups water

1

medium onion, chopped

1

10-ounce box frozen baby peas, thawed

1

pound medium shrimp, peeled and halved lengthwise

3

garlic cloves, minced

1

1/2 tablespoons lemon zest, finely grated

1

teaspoon hot paprika

1

/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1

tablespoon unsalted butter

1

tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1

tablespoon fresh tarragon, finely chopped

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place the split peas in a large bowl with enough water to cover by 2 inches; let stand for 6 hours or overnight.

    Step 2

    Drain the split peas, and transfer them to a large stockpot. Add the clam juice, water, and onion; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the peas soften, 35 to 40 minutes.

    Step 3

    Stir in the baby peas, and simmer for 5 minutes. Let the soup cool slightly. Place in the bowl of a food processor, working in batches, if necessary; puree until smooth. Press through a fine sieve into a large saucepan, and keep warm over low heat.

    Step 4

    In a large bowl, stir together the shrimp, garlic, lemon zest, paprika, and salt. Melt the butter in a nonstick medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, and cook, stirring, until they begin to turn pink and opaque. Add the lemon juice, and stir for 1 minute more. Remove from heat, and stir in the tarragon.

    Step 5

    Ladle the bisque into 6 shallow soup plates, and place a mound of shrimp in the center of each.

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Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.