Courgette Pea and Pesto Soup (Printable)

Vibrant spring soup with fresh courgettes, sweet peas and basil pesto swirl. Ready in 30 minutes for a light vegetarian meal.

# What You 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 (approximately 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
11 - 2 tablespoons crème fraîche or Greek yogurt, optional
12 - Fresh basil leaves, optional

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add diced courgettes and potato. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Pour in vegetable stock, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
05 - Add peas and continue simmering for 5 minutes until all vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender or transfer to a regular blender to purée the soup until smooth.
07 - Season with salt and pepper to taste. Reheat gently if needed.
08 - Ladle into bowls and swirl in 1 tablespoon of pesto per serving. Top with crème fraîche or Greek yogurt and fresh basil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in half an hour but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • One bowl somehow feels both light and completely satisfying.
  • The pesto swirl at the end transforms something simple into something guests actually remember.
02 -
  • Don't skip blending all the way to smoothness or you'll end up with something chunky that doesn't have the same silky appeal.
  • Taste the soup before the final seasoning step because salt levels depend on how salty your stock was to begin with.
03 -
  • An immersion blender makes this soup practically effortless and means fewer dishes to wash afterward.
  • Make a double batch and freeze half because this soup reheats beautifully and becomes a weeknight lifesaver.
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