Zucchini soup

My work weeks have been so hectic now-a-days that every Saturday morning's farmer's market has become sort of like an unwinding kick-start-into-the-weekend ritual. Sipping a hot cuppa coffee and idly strolling through the stalls overflowing with fresh produce, fruits and flowers is meditating and exactly what I need to melt away the stresses of the week to get into my lazy relaxing weekend mode!  Have you seen how all the markets now a days are overflowing with summer squashes and zucchinis? I can never resist staring at those mounds and mounds of neatly arranged zucchinis and colorful squashes. This weekend I couldn't resist but buy a few fresh zucchinis, some leeks and a nice fresh celery.

Once I reached home I googled for zucchini recipes and finally settled on this zucchini soup from Kalyn. This soup had one more thing going for itself, it used rosemary; ever since I saw that bushel of rosemary growing in the backyard I have been itching to try it out in as many recipes as I can and this looked like a perfect one!
The soup turned out to be delicious. Zucchini and rosemary paired up really well! I did not blend the soup but instead crushed it using my potato masher. I like the bits and pieces of veggies floating in my soup :) Rosemary gave this soup a wonderful earthen woody flavor and lemon juice & zest gave it a wonderful lemony freshness. Definitely try this one before zucchinis go out of season.

Recipe: Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 leek (white and tender green parts only)
3 large cloves of garlic - smashed
5 sticks of celery
5 zucchinis - chopped into small pieces
5C water
1Tbsp freshly chopped rosemary (or 1tsp dried)
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
olive oil
juice and zest of 1lemon
s & p

Recipe:
** I usually use water in my soups but feel free to substitute with vegetable broth or chicken broth. I find that sometimes broth overpowers delicate vegetable soups so I use water instead; but feel free to use your favorite broth.
** The key to any good soup is the simmering motion. Once the soup starts to boil, reduce heat as low as you can until its lightly bubbling. Boiling is usually a very vigorous motion for a soup and discouraged in general.
  1. Chop the white and tender green parts of the leek and wash them well (dirt gets trapped inside the leek leaves so its usually better to chop the leeks first and then wash to remove all the trapped dirt).
  2. Heat 1Tbsp olive oil in a large soup pot.
  3. Add leeks and smashed garlic and sauté until the leeks are tender.
  4. Add chopped celery and sauté some more.
  5. Next add the zucchini pieces, chopped rosemary, 5C water and enough salt.
  6. Stir well to combine and let the mixture come to a boil.
  7. Reduce the heat to barely simmer and simmer covered for 30mins until the zucchini is super tender and falls apart easily.
  8. Using a potato masher or an immersion blender, crush the soup slightly to desired final consistency. (I like my soup with lots of bits and pieces rather than a smooth puree; but if you like the puree run the soup through a regular blender).
  9. Add lemon zest and juice. Taste and adjust the seasonings per taste.
  10. Serve. Garnish with some more olive oil, red chili flakes, some chopped fresh zucchini pieces or some croûton.

Comments

? said…
Sounds perfect for the summer Padmaja!
Have marked it! :-)
Sanjeeta kk said…
Healthy and innovative soup. Would love to try.
Savi-Ruchi said…
Zucchini is one vegetable that I am yet to try! Though I see them here in Singapore, they cost a bombshell. Will try this next time, if I happen to buy this veggie :)
Yah me too love going farmers market on weekends.. and zuchinni is my fav veggie and i can eat them as raw itself.. by the way the soup looks so tempting and nice recipe as well.
PJ said…
?, thanks, this soup is perfect when zucchinis are in season.

Sanjeeta, thanks, you should definitely try it before the zucchinis go out of season again.

Sush, wow, i didn't know they were so costly in Singapore! Do you get any other squashes at reasonable price?

Pavithra, isn't it so rejuvenating! i like raw zucchini too, its yummy when its in season.
Hari Chandana P said…
sounds interesting.. lovely and tempting shot.. thanks for the recipe dear !!
Unknown said…
A perfect summer enhancer...thanks for sharing.....will try it....
TheCooker said…
Lovely!
Most certainly making it this week.
Kanchan said…
Talking about unwinding ... i'm in search of things that might relaxing.
Monsoons in .. to lazy to go out guess your virtual soup does make me ":)"
Urmi said…
New and interesting dish. Looks yummy and mouth watering.
Wish you a Happy Friendship Day.
even i have recently developed a liking towards zucchini...never in a soup as yet though..and rosemary..yup love it as well:)
Suji said…
Zucchini is a fav to all of us, never in soup yet ..Looks and sounds yumm yummm PJ..
Kalyn Denny said…
Ooh, I love your photo of the soup!
Hamaree Rasoi said…
Really very innovative soup. Nice shot
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Miri said…
Hmm...zucchini - why do I never remember that for soups! Thanks - looks very inviting
sangeeta said…
Lovely......lucky you to have a rosemary bushel in your backyard....

i like my soups grainy n textured so it's perfect for me n the sunflowers background reminded me of the pics i took of my garden today...there are parrots snacking on the sunflower seeds.
TREAT AND TRICK said…
Sounds interesting, great combo and looks so yummy, beautiful photo too..
Khaugiri said…
Sounds interesting!!!
Sushma Mallya said…
Interesting soup, never done anything with zucchini till now...very nice one for a change..
Joanne said…
I find the farmer's market to be super relaxing as well. It is totally a zen place for me. This zucchini soup looks delicious! The photo is gorgeous and so inviting.
Panchpakwan said…
Hey PJ, Soup looks so delicious..
Nice color and presetation.
PranisKitchen said…
PJ thats so healthy one.. with zuchini and celery really u made a delciious soup.. Liked the term s& p
shahana said…
Recently i had zucchini soup in a party n was looking for the recipe from then.Thanks!!
sayantani said…
this year even we are getting bountiful of zuchinis in the hyper markets. I already have tried salad and dal with them now your soup is tempting me . bookmarking. between I never used leeks and as much as I can recollect they smell and taste like onion. we get leeks also here but they are pretty expensive.
I have never tasted Zuccini PJ :)
But this soup does look quite appealing !!

Cheers
Sandhya
(http://www.sandhyas-kitchen.blogspot.com)
Mary Bergfeld said…
What beautiful photos. Your soup sounds delicious and I'm sure it tastes as good as it looks. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary