Basil Zucc Soup Recipes

CREAMY ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add garlic and onions, and cook for 3 - 4 minutes until they are light golden brown.
• Add zucchinis, broth and water. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to medium. Optional: Scoop brown foam (scum) off surface every now and then.
• Cook for 15 - 20 minutes or until zucchini is very soft.
• Use a stick blender to whizz until smooth. (Note 1 for blender)
• Stir through cream and milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Ladle into bowls, swirl over a touch of cream if desired, a pinch of shredded parmesan, and more pepper. Serve hot or at room temperature.

TOMATO BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium high heat.
• Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 10 minutes -- be careful not to burn garlic.
• Add the tomatoes and the stock.
• Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
• Cook until soup is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the basil.
• Place the pot of soup directly in sink, and using a stick blender, blend until smooth.
• Serve immediately.

ZUCCHINI-BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• Julienne skin (only) from half of zucchini with slicer; toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt and drain in a sieve until wilted, at least 20 minutes. Coarsely chop remaining zucchini.
• Cook onion and garlic in oil in a 3- to 4-quarts heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chopped zucchini and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add 3 cups water and simmer, partially covered, until tender, about 15 minutes. Purée soup with basil in 2 batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids).
• Bring remaining cup water to a boil in a small saucepan and blanch julienned zucchini 1 minute. Drain in a sieve set over a bowl (use liquid to thin soup if necessary).
• Season soup with salt and pepper. Serve in shallow bowls with julienned zucchini mounded on top.

TOMATO BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pot over medium-low heat; cook and stir onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in both amounts of tomato sauce, chicken broth, basil, and oregano. Increase heat to medium and simmer until soup is reduced, 10 to 20 minutes.
• Pour soup into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Add cream. Continue to puree in batches until smooth, transferring creamy soup to another pot.
• Heat soup over medium-high heat until hot, about 5 minutes more.

ITALIAN ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, brown sausage with onion; drain excess fat. Add the next eight ingredients; cover and simmer 1 hour. Stir in zucchini and simmer 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese if desired.

VEGETABLE SOUP WITH SWEET BASIL

Steps:

• Cut the leeks, potato, onion, celery, zucchini, green beans, and carrots into 1/4-inch dice.
• In a 6-quart stockpot, combine 3 tablespoons of the olive oil with the water. Add the vegetables and saute over medium-low heat until all the water evaporates. Do not brown the vegetables.
• Add the stock and bring to a boil. Cook at a gentle boil for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor fitted with the metal blade, put the tomatoes, basil, garlic, and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Pulse until pureed.
• Stir the puree into the cooked soup. Do not let the soup return to a boil. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve the soup hot or cold from a tureen or in individual bowls.

CREAM OF BASIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a saucepan, simmer broth and basil, uncovered, for 15 minutes. In another saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; gradually stir in broth and sour cream (do not boil).