Jamie Oliver Lettuce Soup Recipe

Jamie Oliver’s Quick & Cozy Lettuce Soup Recipe for Any Day

Lettuce soup might sound unconventional, but this culinary creation transforms a humble salad staple into a silky, comforting dish.

Crisp green leaves surrender their fresh essence when gently simmered with aromatic ingredients.

Soft and delicate, the soup captures unexpected depth through careful preparation techniques.

Mediterranean and French cuisines often celebrate these surprising vegetable transformations that challenge typical cooking expectations.

Subtle herbal notes emerge as the lettuce breaks down, releasing delicate flavors into a warm broth.

Rich yet light, this soup offers a unique approach to using leafy greens beyond traditional salads.

Minimal ingredients and straightforward cooking methods make this recipe accessible for home cooks seeking something delightfully different: dive in and savor the unexpected.

Why Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup Deserves Attention

  • Revolutionize Your Veggie Game: This unique lettuce soup transforms an ordinary salad ingredient into a silky, surprising culinary masterpiece that challenges traditional soup expectations.
  • Lightning-Fast Comfort: Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe delivers a quick, nutritious meal perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Texture Transformation Magic: Blending romaine lettuce with stock creates an unexpectedly smooth, creamy consistency that turns a typically crisp vegetable into a velvety, luxurious soup experience that will amaze your taste buds.
  • Versatile Temperature Delight: Enjoy this sophisticated soup either warm or chilled, making it an adaptable dish that works beautifully for summer lunches or cozy winter dinners, with elegant garnishes of radish and pea shoots adding visual and flavor complexity.

Ingredients for Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup

Vegetable Base:
  • Onion: Aromatic foundation that provides a sweet and savory base for the soup.
  • Garlic: Adds depth of flavor and enhances the overall taste profile.
  • Romaine Lettuce: Mild, fresh green that creates the primary soup texture and subtle vegetal flavor.
  • Parsley: Bright herb that adds fresh green notes and subtle herbaceous taste.
Liquid Components:
  • Chicken Stock or Vegetable Stock: Creates the soup's liquid base and adds rich underlying flavor.
  • Lemon Juice: Provides bright, acidic balance to the soup's overall taste.
Finishing and Garnish:
  • Butter: Helps soften vegetables and adds rich, smooth undertone to the soup.
  • Salt: Essential seasoning that enhances and balances all other flavors.
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Used for tossing garnish and adding subtle fruity note.
  • Radish: Crisp garnish that provides peppery crunch and visual contrast.
  • Pea Shoots: Delicate green garnish that adds fresh, light texture and subtle sweetness.

How to Cook Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup

How to Cook Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

Gather and chop your ingredients:
  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 2 garlic cloves (sliced)
  • Romaine lettuce leaves (torn into smaller pieces if large)
  • Fresh parsley
  • Chicken or vegetable stock
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Lemon juice
  • Radish (thinly sliced)
  • Pea shoots
  • Extra-virgin olive oil

Step 2: Sauté Aromatics

Warm a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add of butter and let it melt until foamy. Toss in diced onions and sliced garlic. Stir gently for 3 minutes until vegetables become soft and fragrant.

Step 3: Add Liquid Base

Pour of chicken or vegetable stock into the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for 8 minutes until vegetables become tender and liquid starts to develop deep flavors.

Step 4: Incorporate Greens

Add torn romaine lettuce and chopped parsley to the simmering stock. Cook for 1-2 minutes until greens wilt and soften, releasing their vibrant green color and fresh aroma.

Step 5: Blend Smoothly

Carefully transfer the hot mixture to a blender. Start blending at low speed, gradually increasing to high. Blend for 3 minutes until the soup becomes silky smooth. If the consistency seems too thick, add extra stock to thin it out.

Step 6: Season Perfectly

Taste the soup and add salt carefully. Squeeze a small amount of lemon juice to brighten the flavor. Stir and adjust seasoning to your preference.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Prepare a beautiful garnish by tossing pea shoots and radish slices in extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle these on top of the soup just before serving.

Tips for a Great Jamie Oliver Lettuce Soup

  • Beat Heat with Chilling: Refrigerate soup for a refreshing summer version that transforms the warm dish into a cool, delightful meal.
  • Drizzle with Finesse: Swirl extra-virgin olive oil over the top to create a luxurious finish that elevates the soup's visual and flavor profile.
  • Boost Herb Freshness: Sprinkle just-chopped parsley moments before serving to maintain maximum flavor and bright green color.
  • Control Liquid Magic: Adjust soup consistency by adding stock slowly, ensuring perfect thickness without diluting the delicate lettuce essence.
  • Blend with Caution: Cover blender lid with a kitchen towel and start at low speed to prevent dangerous hot liquid splashes.

Preserving Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup

  • Vacuum Seal Method: Lock in freshness by transferring soup to vacuum-sealed bags, removing all air pockets. Press out excess air before sealing to prevent oxidation and maintain vibrant green color. Perfect for preserving delicate lettuce soup's nutrients and flavor intensity.
  • Mason Jar Technique: Store soup in wide-mouth glass mason jars, leaving one inch of headspace at the top. Seal tightly and place in coldest part of refrigerator to maintain optimal temperature. Glass containers prevent flavor absorption and keep soup tasting crisp and clean.
  • Quick Portion Approach: Divide soup into single-serving containers before refrigerating. Use small, stackable containers for easy storage and quick reheating. Label each container with date and contents to track freshness and minimize food waste. Individual portions ensure consistent quality and prevent repeated temperature fluctuations that can degrade soup's delicate texture.

Flavorful Variations for Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup

  • Green Goddess Soup: Elevate the recipe by adding spinach and kale for a nutrient-packed green powerhouse. Blend in fresh basil and mint to create a vibrant, herbaceous profile that bursts with freshness.
  • Mediterranean Lettuce Soup: Incorporate roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese. Finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a handful of chopped kalamata olives for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
  • Spicy Asian Lettuce Soup: Infuse the soup with ginger, lemongrass, and a touch of sriracha sauce. Garnish with crispy sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, and a swirl of coconut cream to create an exciting Asian-inspired variation.
  • Creamy Protein Boost Soup: Blend in cooked white beans or soft tofu to increase protein content and create a more substantial texture. Top with crispy bacon bits or roasted pumpkin seeds for added crunch and flavor complexity.

Closing Thoughts on Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup

Lettuce soup emerges as Jamie Oliver’s culinary surprise, challenging traditional soup expectations with its delicate green essence.

Kitchen adventurers discover unexpected depth within simple ingredients, transforming ordinary romaine into an elegant dish.

Mediterranean-inspired techniques elevate this recipe beyond typical vegetable preparations.

Sophisticated palates will appreciate subtle herbal undertones and smooth texture that dance between refreshing and comforting.

Radish garnish provides crisp contrast against creamy green base, creating visual and gustatory intrigue.

Silver spoons await your epicurean exploration – share this unusual recipe, spark conversations around your dining table, and watch culinary curiosity bloom among friends who crave something wonderfully different.

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Jamie Oliver Lettuce Soup Recipe

Jamie Oliver Lettuce Soup Recipe


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4.6 from 20 reviews

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Jamie Oliver’s Lettuce Soup brings garden-fresh elegance to your table with surprising depth and comfort. Green leaves simmer into a silky, aromatic experience that captures seasonal simplicity while delivering unexpected culinary magic you’ll want to savor again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces (225g) romaine lettuce, core and root ends trimmed, leaves torn if large
  • 2 cups (475ml) homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock, plus more if needed
  • 1 medium onion (about 8 ounces; 225g), diced
  • 4 medium cloves garlic, sliced

Herbs and Garnish:

  • ¼ cup (1 small handful) loosely packed parsley leaves
  • Thinly sliced radish and pea shoots, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil, for garnish

Seasonings:

  • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Fresh lemon juice, to taste

Instructions

  1. Meticulously prepare ingredients by finely dicing the onion, thinly slicing the garlic, and gently separating the romaine lettuce leaves to ensure uniform cooking and texture.
  2. Heat a medium saucepan and melt 4 tablespoons (60 grams) of butter over medium heat until it becomes frothy and golden. Introduce the diced onion and sliced garlic, gently sautéing until they become translucent and fragrant, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Pour 4 cups (960 milliliters) of chicken or vegetable stock into the saucepan, allowing the liquid to reach a gentle simmer. Continue cooking until the vegetables become exceptionally tender, which typically requires 7 to 9 minutes.
  4. Carefully fold the romaine lettuce and fresh parsley into the simmering liquid, letting them wilt and soften for 1 to 2 minutes while maintaining the delicate flavors of the herbs.
  5. Transfer the hot mixture into a blender, working in batches if necessary to prevent overflow. Purée the soup at low speed, gradually increasing to high, creating a silky-smooth consistency that takes approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Adjust the soup’s consistency by adding additional stock if it appears too thick. Season with kosher salt and a subtle hint of fresh lemon juice to enhance the overall flavor profile, being careful not to overpower the delicate vegetable essence.
  7. Elegantly plate the soup by garnishing with thinly sliced radishes and delicate pea shoots lightly dressed in extra-virgin olive oil. Serve the lettuce soup either piping hot or refreshingly chilled, depending on personal preference and seasonal temperature.

Notes

  • Blending this soup transforms humble romaine into a luxurious, restaurant-worthy dish that surprises and delights.
  • Minimal cooking time means gourmet flavor without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Unexpected ingredients like radish and pea shoots turn a simple soup into a stunning culinary presentation.
  • Versatile temperature options make this recipe perfect for any season, whether you’re craving warmth or refreshment.
  • Professional chefs know that careful seasoning and gradual blending are key to achieving silky-smooth perfection.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 115
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 200mg
  • Fat: 8g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 10g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 10mg
Isabella Rodriguez

Isabella Rodriguez

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning

Education

Le Cordon Bleu Paris

  • Diploma: Grand Diplôme®
  • Focus: Intensive training in classic French cuisine and pastry techniques, combining the Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie.

Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.

At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.

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