Pea Pod Soup with Lemon Crème Fraîche

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh peas in the pod
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup chopped shallots
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 quart fat-skimmed chicken broth
• 1/2 cup basmati rice
• 1/2 cup crème fraîche (see notes)
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• Salt and fresh-ground pepper

Preparation

1. 1. Rinse peas in pods. Cut off and discard tough ends from pods; pull off and discard strings. Shell peas. Reserve pods; blanch and reserve peas. To blanch fresh peas, bring water to a boil in a large pan, then add peas. Cook just until they start to turn a brighter green, 15 to 30 seconds, then drain immediately. Rinse well under cold running water until cool, then drain again.
2. 2. In a 4- to 5-quart pan over medium heat, melt butter. When it is foamy, add shallots and stir until limp, about 3 minutes. Add wine, increase heat, and boil, stirring, until about half the liquid has evaporated. Add pea pods, chicken broth, and 3 cups water; lower heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add rice and cook until pods are tender when pierced, 25 minutes longer.
3. 3. In a small bowl, stir together crème fraîche, lemon peel, and lemon juice.
4. 4. Working in small batches, transfer pod mixture to a blender; whirl until nearly smooth. (The tough bits of pea pods may catch on blade; stop motor and remove blender jar to clean blade as needed.) Pour soup through a fine strainer into a 4- to 5-quart pan, pressing on solids to extract liquid; discard solids.
5. 5. Stir in half the lemon crème fraîche; add salt and pepper to taste. Set over medium heat; stir occasionally until soup is steaming. Add blanched peas. Ladle soup into bowls and top each with lemon crème fraîche.