Courgette Pea Pesto Soup (Printable)

Vibrant spring soup with courgettes, sweet 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 (about 5 ounces)

→ 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)

# Method:

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. 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 -
  • It comes together in thirty minutes flat but tastes like something you simmered all afternoon
  • The pesto swirl turns an everyday soup into something you would happily serve guests
  • It freezes beautifully so you can always have homemade soup waiting in the freezer
02 -
  • Do not skip the potato, it is what gives this soup its creamy texture without adding any dairy
  • Blend thoroughly because any chunks will distract from the silky smooth experience
  • The soup thickens as it sits so you may need to thin it with a splash of water or stock when reheating
03 -
  • Use an immersion blender if you can because transferring hot soup to a blender is messy and slightly dangerous
  • Taste your pesto before seasoning the soup since some brands are quite salty
  • If the soup seems too thick after blending, add stock a splash at a time until you reach the right consistency
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