Spring soup moment...
In mid-March the brightest red/pink shoots and frilly foliage of lovage (Levisticum officinale) give me such a colour-jolt and also remind me that to make one of my favourite spring soups.
The herb grower and author Lesley Bremness ( she has written over 14 books) is my inspiration here. In her book The Complete Book of Herbs published in 1984 she has a very simple and delicious recipe for lovage soup. This time though I adapted it slightly. Instead of using flour I used some pre-cooked potatoes which added the same sort of body or thickening to the soup that the flour would have done.
Onions, butter, lovage leaves chopped, seasoning and milk are the ingredients providing this nutty, spicy soup.
The lovage plantation is well on its way now, ready for world domination, or at least of the raised bed in which I grow it. I have been digging up and potting plants to give away, but I must say I enjoy its insect-attracting flowers and tall, hedge-like presence in the late summer garden.
Meanwhile I have soup to enjoy and more to make ahead for days to come!
Like many books published a while back it is packed full of interesting text, but had a different image text/balance!
My lovage is coming through Barbara. I often make a half lovage and half parsley pesto but I’ll certainly try a lovage soup this spring. Thank you.