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Creamy Basil Zucchini Soup





Total Time
45 mins

This creamy zucchini soup is a wonderful way to prepare summer’s most bountiful squash: zucchini.  The flavors of fresh basil, chili powder, and yellow onion pair well with the zucchini.  Serve with thick baguette slices and fresh sliced tomatoes for a simple, satisfying meal.

Creamy Basil Zucchini Soup




Annabelle Breakey
 1 tablespoon olive oil
 1 large yellow onion, chopped
 2 pounds zucchini, sliced 1/4 in. thick
 4 cups reduced-sodium or homemade chicken broth
 1 cup loosely packed basil leaves, washed and stemmed, plus more for garnish
 2 tablespoons crème fraîche (see Notes), plus more for garnish
 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, plus more for garnish
  Kosher salt
Step 1
1

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini and cook another 2 minutes; then add chicken broth and 1 cup basil leaves. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook 20 minutes.

Step 2
2

Purée the soup in batches in a blender. Pour the soup through a strainer into a bowl, using a ladle to push any solid bits through. Add 2 tbsp. crème fraîche and 1/4 tsp. chili powder. Season with salt to taste.

Step 3
3

Divide soup among bowls and garnish each with some crème fraîche, a sprinkle of chili powder, and a few basil leaves.

Step 4
4

The Twist: Dress It Up. We love the simplicity of this soothing, mild soup, but to make it a little fancier, skip garnishing the soup with crème fraîche, chili powder, and basil in step 3, and instead halve 1 roasted red bell pepper, removing seeds and stem. Slice half into ribbons. Put the other half in a blender and purée with 1/2 cup crème fraîche or sour cream. Strain into a bowl, then drizzle over soup. Top with bell pepper ribbons and toasted pine nuts.

Step 5
5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per 1 1/2-cup serving.

Nutrition Facts

0 servings

Serving size

Amount per serving
Calories101
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5g7%

Saturated Fat 1.7g9%
Cholesterol 4.7mg2%
Sodium 440mg20%
Total Carbohydrate 11g4%

Dietary Fiber 2.5g9%
Protein 5.5g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.