Summertime Zuke Soup

These days I’ve been caught up in using lemon thyme from my herb garden in summer cooking, loving its citrus-floral flavor. Recently, I discovered the thick, tangy creaminess of cultured sour cream. It’s wonderful in cool vegetable side dishes and cold soups.

I like to prepare this  “zuke soup” in the morning to give it all day for the flavors to come together as it chills for our supper. TIP: an immersion blender makes quick work of the prep here.

Serves 4 as an entrée, 6 as a starter

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium-sized white onion, chopped
  • 1-1/2 pound organic zucchini, trimmed, thickly sliced and chopped
  • 1 organic carrot, grated
  • kosher salt and ground white pepper
  • 3 cups homemade chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon thyme leaves, roughly chopped ( any fresh thyme will do)
  • 1 cup half & half
  • 1/2 cup cultured sour cream (I used “wallaby” from Whole Foods)
  • 1 teaspoon Meyer lemon zest (any fresh lemon zest)

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the chopped onion and cook over medium heat until softened. Add the chopped zucchini, grated carrot and the stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, another 10-15 minutes, in covered skillet.

2. Remove skillet from heat, uncover and allow mixture to cool for 30 minutes. Purée in blender in batches, keeping mixture slightly “chunky”, then turn puréed soup into a large, non-reactive container.

3. Add the thyme, Half & Half, sour cream and lemon zest. Stir well, then taste and correct seasoning, remembering that flavors will “set” as the day progresses – i.e. don’t over-salt!

4. Chill for at least 6 hours. If desired, garnish with a drizzle of best quality olive oil and a sprig of fresh lemon thyme.

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13 Responses to Summertime Zuke Soup

  1. TasteFood July 8, 2011 at 6:20 pm #

    How lovely and refreshing. I’ve never made a cold zucchini soup. Now I will!

    • lizthechef July 8, 2011 at 7:27 pm #

      I love chilled soups – so easy to make in the morning and enjoy for supper.

  2. Toni July 9, 2011 at 3:20 am #

    I bet this was really refreshing with the heat we had this last week.

  3. thedailydish July 10, 2011 at 3:39 pm #

    This looks lovely, Liz! And your note about Lemon Thyme reminds me of another recipe I’ve been wanting to try, for a lemon thyme bread. If it turns out well, I’ll have to share it on the Daily Dish!

    • lizthechef July 10, 2011 at 4:47 pm #

      Please do – I even use it in a blueberry tart. Thanks so much-

  4. chezsuzaane July 11, 2011 at 7:13 pm #

    I love zucchini but have never made a soup with it. I love this recipe, and love the addition of the thyme and lemon. Yum!!

  5. healthyandgreen July 12, 2011 at 11:40 am #

    This looks great Liz! I might try it with creme fraiche instead of the cultured sour cream since I have some in the fridge I need to use up…

  6. Elizabeth, My CommunalTable July 13, 2011 at 3:50 am #

    I made this with soy sour cream and omitted the half and half for my son’s allergy. I worked out great. I ate some for breakfast. The lemon made it. Thanks.

  7. Kristina Vanni July 13, 2011 at 4:22 pm #

    What a fresh and delicious way to enjoy zucchini. I just can’t get enough of this fantastic vegetable during the summer!

  8. Rustic Garden Bistro July 18, 2011 at 5:49 am #

    We have more zucchini than we know what do to with, so the idea of making a soup is actually a good one. Your garden is looking marvelous!

    [K]

    • lizthechef July 18, 2011 at 2:41 pm #

      Thanks, a little heat has really helped the garden “pop”.

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