Courgette Pea Pesto Soup (Printable)

Vibrant spring soup with courgettes, peas and basil pesto swirl

# 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 (store-bought or homemade)
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, being careful not to burn it.
03 - Add diced courgettes and potato to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to lightly soften the vegetables.
04 - Pour in vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
05 - Stir in peas and continue simmering for 5 minutes until all vegetables are completely tender.
06 - Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender or transfer to a regular blender to purée until completely smooth and creamy.
07 - Season with salt and pepper to taste. Reheat gently if needed. Ladle into bowls and swirl in 1 tablespoon of pesto per serving. Top with crème fraîche or Greek yogurt and fresh basil leaves if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its ready in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon over the stove
  • The pesto swirl transforms a simple soup into something restaurant worthy
  • You can freeze portions for those nights when cooking feels impossible
02 -
  • Hot soup expands violently in blenders, so either use an immersion blender or let it cool slightly before blending in batches
  • Adding the pesto at the end rather than cooking it in preserves the fresh basil flavor and vibrant color
03 -
  • Reserve a few whole peas before blending to add texture and visual interest to the finished bowls
  • If the soup seems too thick after blending, add stock a tablespoon at a time until you reach your preferred consistency
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