Courgette Pea and Pesto Soup (Print View)

Vibrant spring soup with courgettes, peas, and basil pesto swirl. Ready in 30 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons 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

→ Liquids

07 - 4 cups vegetable stock

→ Seasoning

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

→ Garnish

10 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto
11 - 2 tablespoons crème fraîche or Greek yogurt, optional
12 - Fresh basil leaves, optional

# How To Make It:

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

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd expect, leaving you with something that tastes like summer in a bowl.
  • The pesto swirl at the end feels fancy but requires zero extra effort, just a generous spoonful.
  • It's forgiving enough for weeknight cooking but elegant enough to serve when people are coming over.
02 -
  • Don't skip the potato—I tried making this without it once thinking it would be lighter, and the soup tasted thin and one-dimensional.
  • Taste the soup before you serve it; the stock's saltiness varies wildly between brands, and you're the only one who can balance it right.
03 -
  • If your soup splits or looks grainy after blending, it's probably too hot; let it cool slightly before puréeing or use short pulses instead of one long blend.
  • Swirl the pesto in at the very last second—it stays brighter and more vibrant that way, and it looks more intentional on the plate.
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