Courgette Pea and Pesto Soup (Printable View)

Vibrant spring soup with fresh courgette, sweet peas and herby pesto swirl

# Needed Ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium courgettes (zucchini), diced
02 - 1 medium onion, chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1⅓ cups frozen or fresh peas
05 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups vegetable stock

→ Herbs & Seasoning

07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
09 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Pesto

10 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto, store-bought or homemade

→ Garnish & Serving

11 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish
12 - Crusty bread for serving, optional

# Directions:

01 - Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened but not browned.
02 - Add the diced potato and courgette, stir well, and cook for another 3 minutes.
03 - Pour in the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the potato is tender.
04 - Add the peas and simmer for a further 5 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth, or transfer in batches to a countertop blender.
06 - Stir in 3 tablespoons of pesto, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Ladle into bowls, swirl in the remaining pesto, and garnish with fresh basil. Serve hot with crusty bread if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The marriage of sweet peas and delicate courgettes creates a velvety texture that feels indulgent without any cream.
  • Its wonderfully adaptable to whatever mood strikes you can serve it piping hot with crusty bread on cool days or chilled in small cups for a refreshing summer starter.
02 -
  • Never blend hot soup filled to the top of a blender the expanding steam will blow the lid off and create a scalding mess I learned this the hard way.
  • Adding the pesto after blending rather than cooking it in preserves its bright flavor and prevents that dull, muddy taste that happens when herbs are overcooked.
03 -
  • Reserve a few tablespoons of the cooked peas before blending and sprinkle them on top for a delightful textural contrast against the smooth soup.
  • If using an immersion blender, blend in an up-and-down motion rather than circular to incorporate air for an even silkier texture.
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