Spring Vegetable Soup Pesto (Print View)
A light blend of spring vegetables in a savory broth topped with fragrant basil pesto swirl.
# What You'll Need:
→ Soup Base
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, sliced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
05 - 7 oz baby potatoes, diced
06 - 1 small zucchini, diced
07 - 3.5 oz green beans, trimmed and cut into 3/4 inch pieces
08 - 3.5 oz shelled fresh or frozen peas
09 - 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Pesto Swirl
12 - 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
13 - 1 small garlic clove
14 - 2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
15 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
17 - Pinch of salt
# Method:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leek and garlic, sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and soft.
02 - Add carrots and potatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Stir in zucchini, green beans, and peas. Pour in the vegetable broth and add the bay leaf.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
05 - While the soup simmers, prepare the pesto: In a food processor, combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth, adding a little more oil if needed.
06 - Remove the bay leaf from the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and swirl 1–2 teaspoons of pesto into each serving. Serve immediately.
# Insider Tips:
01 -
- The pesto swirl transforms a simple soup into something restaurant worthy
- Its ready in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
- Do not overcook the vegetables or you will lose the fresh spring texture
- The pesto swirl should be added right before serving, not cooked into the soup
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables to roughly the same size so they cook evenly
- Taste the pesto before swirling it in and adjust the salt if needed