Provençal Vegetable Soup
Provençal Vegetable Soup is a comforting soup made with garden vegetables, beans and topped with a homemade fragrant pistou or the French pesto. This glorious soup with its earthy flavors pairs well with a French baguette or any crusty bread. It is packed with chock-full of nutrients and is a true celebration of summer.
Equipment
- Dutch oven, stovetop
Ingredients
For the pistou:
- 1 cup basil packed
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- a pinch salt
- 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
For the Provencal Vegetable Soup:
- 1 red onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced or crushed
- 8 French beans (haricots verts) chopped
- 1 zucchini peeled, small cubes
- 1 leek white/light green part sliced
- 1 red potato peeled, cubed
- 8 leaves spinach chiffonade
- 4 tomato blanched, deseeded, chopped
- 8 baby carrots chopped
- 2 sticks celery chopped
- ¾ cup pink kidney beans
- ½ cup fresh peas
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp Provencal seasoning
- 1½ tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 4½ cups homemade vegetable stock
Instructions
How to make the pistou:
- Grind the ingredients for the pistou in a stone mortar and pestle or coffee grinder by scraping down the sides.
- Grind to a slightly thick and coarse sauce.
How to make the Provençal Vegetable Soup:
- Heat a Dutch oven, add olive oil and saute the onion and leek for 2 minutes on medium heat until soft.
- Add garlic and carrots and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add potato, celery, beans, and homemade vegetable stock. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes with the lid.
- Add the tomatoes, zucchini, and peas. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Finally, add the Provencal seasoning or herbs, and red beans with the cooked water and boil for 3 minutes. Garnish with a dollop of pistou and basil leaves and serve hot with French baguette.
Notes
- Substitute with white beans or any other broad beans. Pressure cook the beans soaked the previous night in one and a half cups of water. Alternatively, boil the soaked beans for 25 minutes in water. Use the cooked water for the soup.
Nutrition
Calories: 209kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 856mgPotassium: 640mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 3398IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 2mg
