Grass Pea Soup

Grass pea soup is a rustic and nutritious dish, typical of the Italian peasant tradition. Grass peas are little-known legumes but are rich in protein and fibre. Here is the recipe for a delicious grass pea soup:

Ingredients

• 300 g of grass peas
• 1 carrot
• 1 onion
• 1 stalk of celery
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 500 ml of vegetable broth or water
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Grated cheese to serve, optional

Preparation

1. Soak the grass peas for at least 12 hours before cooking.
2. Drain and rinse the grass peas.
3. In a large pot, sauté the chopped onion, carrot, and celery cut into small pieces in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
4. Add the crushed garlic cloves, rosemary, and bay leaf.
5. After a few minutes, add the grass peas and cover them with the vegetable broth or water.
6. Bring to a boil and let simmer until the grass peas are tender, about 1-2 hours (depending on their size and age).
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. For a creamier soup, you can puree a part of the grass peas and reintegrate them into the soup.
9. Serve hot and, if you wish, with a sprinkle of grated cheese on top.

This dish is rich in history and tradition. In the past, grass peas were very common in the Italian countryside, especially during periods of famine or economic hardship, thanks to their low cost and high nutritional value. Today they are rediscovered as part of the movement to recover ancient foods and biodiversity in the kitchen.