Courgette Pea and Pesto Soup (Printable)

Vibrant spring soup with courgettes, peas and basil pesto swirl

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tbsp olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 3 medium courgettes (zucchini), diced
05 - 1 2/3 cups frozen or fresh peas
06 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced (about 5 oz)

→ Liquids

07 - 4 cups vegetable stock

→ Seasoning

08 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
09 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

10 - 4 tbsp basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
11 - 2 tbsp crème fraîche or Greek yogurt (optional)
12 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
03 - Add the courgettes and potato. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Pour in the vegetable stock, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
05 - Add the peas and continue simmering for 5 minutes, until all vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender or regular blender to purée the soup until smooth.
07 - Season with salt and pepper. Reheat gently if needed.
08 - Ladle into bowls and swirl in a tablespoon of pesto per serving. Top with crème fraîche or Greek yogurt and fresh basil, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pesto swirl makes it feel fancy enough for dinner guests but it takes barely any effort
  • It freezes beautifully so you can keep a taste of spring even in winter
02 -
  • An immersion blender saves so much hassle and cleanup compared to transferring hot soup to a regular blender
  • The potato is not optional, it creates that velvety texture that makes the soup feel luxurious
03 -
  • If the soup seems too thick after blending, add a splash more stock or water until you reach your desired consistency
  • Use frozen peas straight from the freezer, no need to thaw them first as they cook quickly
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