This time of year I can never get enough zucchini. That is until I can’t stand anymore zucchini.
If you’ve ever tried your hand at growing summer squash you know that once it starts growing, it never seems to stop. Like bunnies of the garden, they seem to grow exponentially and overtake the whole garden patch. So, after you’ve made your share of zucchini pasta, zucchini carpaccio, and salads, well, it can get to be a bit overwhelming.
That’s when I turn to this super easy Chilled Zucchini Walnut Basil Soup recipe. It requires just a few minutes of stove time, a whirl in the blender, and a few hours of chilling time. My favorite part is that it’s a healthy dinner recipe that’s so stand out, no one will ever know you were just trying to get rid of your bumper crop of zucchini!
Go stock up on all your cooking essentials then head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us by tagging @saltandwind and #swsociety on social!
Chilled Zucchini Walnut Basil Soup Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus more for garnish
- 6 shallots peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 1 pounds zucchini cut crosswise into 1/8-inch rounds
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups toasted walnut halves plus more for garnish
- 2 ounces (about 3 packed cups) fresh basil leaves plus more for garnish
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Sauté The Zucchini: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in zucchini, salt, and pepper, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is very soft, about 10 minutes. Add broth and simmer until zucchini is falling apart, about 20 minutes.
- Blend The Zucchini:Â Place half of the zucchini mixture and half of the walnuts in a food processor fitted with a blade and process until smooth, at least 2 minutes (use caution when blending hot liquids). Transfer to a medium bowl, then repeat with remaining soup.
- Chill The Soup: Set soup bowl into a large bowl of ice water, and set aside to cool, stirring occasionally until room temperature, about 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill thoroughly, at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, blend or purée the basil, yogurt, and lemon juice together until smooth.Just before serving, stir in yogurt mixture, taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve topped with chopped walnuts, a drizzle of olive oil, and a few torn basil leaves.
