In the heart of Provence, where the sun-kissed fields burst with vibrant colors and aromatic herbs, there lies a culinary treasure that embodies the essence of this picturesque region - the Provençal vegetable soup with basil. This traditional Provençal dish is a symphony of flavors and textures, a delightful dance of fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, and a splash of white wine that come together to create a heartwarming and nourishing experience. From the earthy sweetness of tomatoes and zucchini to the subtle bitterness of eggplant and the peppery kick of bell peppers, each vegetable contributes its unique character to this vibrant soup. Infused with the heady scent of basil, thyme, and rosemary, this soup captures the very essence of Provençal cuisine, where simplicity and freshness reign supreme. As you savor each spoonful, you'll be transported to the sun-drenched markets of Provence, surrounded by the vibrant colors and intoxicating aromas of this culinary paradise. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking for a taste of authentic Provençal flavors, this Provençal vegetable soup with basil is sure to delight your senses and leave you craving for more. So, let's embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Provence and discover the secrets behind this delectable dish, with step-by-step recipes that will guide you towards creating your own Provençal masterpiece.
Let's cook with our recipes!
PROVENçAL VEGETABLE SOUP (SOUPE AU PISTOU)
Provided by Ruth Cousineau
Categories Soup/Stew Cheese Pasta Potato Soy Vegetarian Quick & Easy Dinner Lunch Green Bean Boil Gourmet Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Make soup:
- Cook leek, celery, carrot, garlic, and thyme sprig in oil with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a 5-to 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables brown and stick to bottom of pot, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add potatoes and chard stems with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up brown bits.
- Stir in edamame, zucchini, green beans, pasta, chard leaves, and 1/4 tsp salt and simmer, uncovered, until pasta is al dente and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Discard thyme sprig.
- Meanwhile make pistou:
- Heat a dry small skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then char tomato on all sides. Core tomato, then purée with basil, parsley, and garlic in a food processor. Add oil and cheese and blend well.
- Remove soup from heat and stir in half of pistou and salt and pepper to taste. Serve soup with remaining pistou.
PROVENCAL VEGETABLE SOUP: SOUPE AU PISTOU
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and saute just until they start to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute about 1 minute more. Add the carrots and celery and continue sauteing until the vegetables deepen in color but have not yet begun to brown, 3 to 4 minutes more. Pour the stock into the pan, bring it to a boil, and reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Sprinkle in a generous pinch of salt.
- Tie the peppercorns, thyme, and parsley in a square of cheesecloth, securing it with kitchen string. Add this bouquet garni to the pan. Stir in the beans, zucchini, summer squash, and tomato. Continue simmering until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the Pistou: Put the garlic and tomatoes in a blender or food processor with about 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Begin processing. With the machine running, add the basil leaves, and then pour in enough extra-virgin olive oil to make a smooth, thick, but fluid paste. Transfer about 2/3 of the paste into a serving bowl to pass alongside the soup.
- Make the Goat Cheese Croutons: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Brush the bread slices with olive oil and arrange them on a baking sheet. Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven and turn on the broiler. Spread 1 side of each crouton with goat cheese and put it back on the baking sheet. Broil until the cheese is warm and slightly bubbly, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
- When the soup is ready, stir the remaining pistou into the saucepan, ladling some of the hot broth into the blender or processor bowl to swirl and rinse any pesto clinging inside into the pan. Remove and discard the bouquet garni. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with a little more salt.
- Ladle the soup into individual heated serving bowls. Float a crouton in the center of each bowl. With a spoon, drizzle a little more pistou over the crouton and soup in each bowl. Serve immediately, passing more pistou alongside for each person to add, to taste.
PROVENCAL VEGETABLE SOUP
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories appetizer
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot, add the onions, and saute over low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions are translucent. Add the leeks, potatoes, carrots, salt, and pepper and saute over medium heat for another 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and saffron, bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, or until all the vegetables are tender. Add the haricots verts and spaghetti, bring to a simmer, and cook for 15 more minutes.
- To serve, whisk 1/4 cup of the pistou into the hot soup, then season to taste. Depending on the saltiness of your chicken stock, you may need to add up to another tablespoon of salt. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and more pistou.
- Pistou:
- 4 large garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 24 large basil leaves
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1/2 cup good olive oil
- Place the garlic, tomato paste, basil, and Parmesan in the bowl of a food processor and puree. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil down the feed tube to make a paste. Pack into a container, pour a film of olive oil on top, and close the lid.
- Yield: 1 cup
PROVENCAL VEGETABLE SOUP
This is a traditional soup of Provence. Don't omit the pistou as this gives this dish a wonderful scent and color. Preparation time depends if using fresh or dried. If dried beans, soak overnight. An extra 30 min boiling time as stated in the procedure would be needed. Posted for ZWT5.
Provided by Pneuma
Categories Potato
Time 1h45m
Yield 6-8 bowls, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- To make the pistou: mix in the food processor the 1st 3 pistou ingredients until smooth, adding the extra virgin oil last.
- To make the soup: if using dried haricot beans,place in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a hard boil for 10 mins and drain. Place the par-boiled beans, or fresh beans if using, in a saucepan with the herbes de Provence and one of the garlic cloves. Add water to cover by 2.5 cm./1in. Boil, reduce heat and simmer over a medium low heat until tender, about 20 minuters for fresh breans and about 1 hour for dried beans. Set aside in the cooking liquid.
- In a large saucepan or flameproof casserole heat the oil. Add onion and leeks, cook for 5 minutes, stir occasionally, until onion softens.
- Add celery, carrots and the other garlic clove and cook, covered for 10 minutes, stirring.
- Add potatoes, French beans and water, then season lighlty with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, skim any foam that rises to the surface, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add courgettes, tomatoes and peas together with the reserved beans and their cooking liquid and simmer for 25-30mins, or until all the vegetables are tender. Add the spinach and simmer for 5 minutes. Season the soup and swirl a spoonful of pistou into each bowl. Garnish with basil and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 337.7, Fat 13.2, SaturatedFat 2.3, Cholesterol 2.9, Sodium 383.1, Carbohydrate 44.9, Fiber 12.5, Sugar 6.8, Protein 12.8
SOUPE AU PISTOU (PROVENçAL VEGETABLE SOUP)
Provided by Bryan Miller
Categories lunch, one pot, soups and stews, appetizer, main course
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a pot, bring the water, salted, to a boil and add carrots, potatoes, onions, green beans and zucchini. Cook 20 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Drain kidney beans and add them to the soup.
- Mix oil, tomato paste, garlic and basil. Pour into the soup and stir well.
- Before serving, sprinkle grated cheese to taste in a bowl or mug. Pour soup over cheese.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 381, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 10 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 2170 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams
PROVENçAL TOMATO AND BASIL SOUP
I learned to make this soup years ago when I lived in France. If there are no fresh tomatoes at hand, use canned. The soup is delicious and silky if you thicken it with tapioca.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories weekday, appetizer
Time 1h
Yield Serves four
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Stir in half the garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, basil sprigs or leaves and remaining garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add the water, Parmesan rind and salt to taste. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 minutes. Add the tapioca or rice, and simmer for another 15 minutes until the tapioca is tender and the soup fragrant. Remove the basil sprigs and Parmesan rind. Puree in a blender in small batches, taking care to place a towel over the top of the blender and hold it down tightly. If you used fresh unpeeled tomatoes and want a silkier soup, put through a strainer, using a spatula or the back of a ladle to push the soup through. Return to the pot, add pepper to taste and adjust salt. Serve garnished with garlic croutons and/or Parmesan, if desired, and slivered basil leaves. If serving cold, refrigerate until chilled.
Tips:
- Use fresh, seasonal vegetables: This will ensure the best flavor and texture for your soup.
- Don't be afraid to mix and match vegetables: There are no hard and fast rules about what vegetables to use in Provençal vegetable soup. Feel free to experiment with different combinations to find your favorites.
- Sauté the vegetables before adding them to the soup: This will help to caramelize them and give them a deeper flavor.
- Use a good quality olive oil: Olive oil is a key ingredient in Provençal cuisine. Be sure to use a good quality oil that has a fruity, peppery flavor.
- Season the soup to taste: Provencal vegetable soup typically has a light, herby flavor. Adjust the seasonings to your liking, keeping in mind that you can always add more, but it's difficult to take them away.
- Garnish the soup with fresh herbs: Fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley, and thyme, add a pop of color and flavor to the soup. Add them just before serving.
Conclusion:
Provençal vegetable soup is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed all year round. It is a great way to use up seasonal vegetables and is a healthy and satisfying meal. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, give Provencal vegetable soup a try. You won't be disappointed!
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