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Summer-Squash Soup with Parsley Mint Pistou

4.6

(37)

It's hard to believe there's no cream in this soup, it's so velvety. A swirl of minty pistou, added at the last minute, provides complexity.

Cooks' notes:

•Soup (without pistou) can be made 2 days ahead and cooled, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Reheat before serving, thinning with additional water if desired.
•Pistou keeps, its surface covered with plastic wrap, chilled, 3 days. Bring to room temperature before using.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 1/2 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

For squash soup

3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 medium onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 lb yellow summer squash, halved and thinly sliced
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 yellow-fleshed potato (1/2 lb), peeled, halved,
4 cups chicken stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth

for pistou

3/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs
1 large scallion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

  1. Make soup:

    Step 1

    Melt butter in a 6- to 8-quart wide heavy pot over moderate heat, then cook onion with salt, stirring, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add squash, carrots, potato, and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, then simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool soup, uncovered, 10 minutes.

    Step 2

    Working in batches, purée; soup in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids) and transfer to a bowl. Return puré to cleaned pot and thin with water if desired; simmer 3 minutes. Season with salt.

  2. Make pistou while vegetables simmer:

    Step 3

    Pulse mint, parsley, and scallion in a food processor until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil in a stream, then add water and salt, blending until incorporated.

    Step 4

    Swirl 1 tablespoon pistou into each bowl of soup.

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