**Discover the Enchanting Soupe au Pistou: A Culinary Journey to Provence**
Immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors of Provence with soupe au pistou, a classic French soup brimming with fresh, aromatic ingredients. This traditional Provençal dish showcases the region's culinary treasures, featuring a flavorful broth brimming with tender vegetables, hearty beans, and the vibrant green of freshly made pistou. As you savor each spoonful, you'll be transported to the sun-kissed fields of Provence, where the vibrant flavors of basil, garlic, and olive oil dance in perfect harmony. This article offers a collection of carefully curated recipes, each capturing the essence of soupe au pistou while showcasing unique variations and culinary inspirations. From the classic recipe passed down through generations to innovative interpretations using seasonal ingredients, you'll find a recipe that suits your taste and cooking style. Embark on a culinary adventure and discover the magic of soupe au pistou, a dish that embodies the spirit of Provence and promises to delight your taste buds.
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.
SOUPE AU PISTOU
Perhaps Provence's answer to minestrone, this seasonal vegetable soup - enriched with a simplified basil pesto (no pine nuts) - was inspired by the white beans, canned tomatoes and soup pasta languishing in my pantry, as well as the basil in my garden and the early summer vegetables at the local farmers' market. The ingredient list is long, but the labor involved in making this soup is minimal. It tastes best if you make it through step 2 a day ahead.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, editors' pick, soups and stews, main course
Time 2h30m
Yield Serves: Six to eight
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Drain the white beans and combine with 2 quarts water in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Skim off any foam, then add half the onion, half the garlic and the bouquet garni. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Add salt to taste.
- Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet, and add the remaining chopped onion and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the leeks and remaining garlic. Stir together for a few minutes, and add the tomatoes. Cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and the mixture is fragrant, five to 10 minutes. Stir this mixture into the soup pot, add all of the remaining vegetables except the green beans, and bring back to a simmer. Cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes to an hour. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
- While the soup is simmering, blanch the green beans for five minutes in salted boiling water. Transfer to a bowl of ice-cold water. Drain and set aside.
- To make the pistou, mash the garlic with a generous pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle. Remove it and set aside. Grind the basil to a paste in the mortar, a handful at a time, then add the garlic back in and mix together well. Work in the olive oil a tablespoon at a time, then stir in the cheese.
- Add the pasta to the simmering soup about 10 minutes before serving, and cook until cooked al dente. Add pepper, taste and adjust salt. Stir the blanched green beans into the soup and heat through. Serve, adding a spoonful of pesto to each bowl for guests to stir in. Pass additional Parmesan for sprinkling.
SOUPE AU PISTOU
Steps:
- For the stock:
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium heat; stir in ingredients. Cover. Cook until vegetables are soft, about 30minutes. Add 8 cups water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat; simmer for 45 minutes. Strain, reserving broth and half the vegetables. Skim fat. Discard thyme and bay leaf. Puree reserved vegetables in a blender. Stir into stock.
- For the soup:
- Heat oil in the same pot. Sauté onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and herbs. Add reserved broth, tomatoes and beans. Bring to a boil. Lower heat; simmer 30 to 45 minutes. Ladle into bowls; drizzle with pesto or oil.
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
WINTER VEGETABLE SOUPE AU PISTOU
This is a big, simple soup made with winter vegetables - all diced small and thrown into a big pot with water and simmered for an hour. It's garnished with the Provençal version of pesto, which does not contain any pine nuts. It makes a hearty meal.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, weekday, soups and stews, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield Serves 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large soup pot, combine all of the ingredients except the canned beans, pasta and black pepper and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for an hour. Taste, adjust salt, add pepper to taste, and stir in the canned beans (make sure they've been drained and rinsed).
- While the soup is simmering, make the pistou if you don't already have some in your freezer.
- Add the pasta to the simmering soup about 10 minutes before serving, and cook until al dente. Taste and adjust seasonings. Ladle the soup into bowls and place a dollop of pistou in each bowl, or pass the pistou in a bowl and let people stir in their own. Pass additional Parmesan or Gruyère for sprinkling.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 148, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 30 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 1205 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams
THE MINIMALIST'S SOUPE AU PISTOU
One of my favorite dishes to make with fresh basil is soupe au pistou, the Provençal creation that combines legumes, vegetables and a strong but pared-down version of pesto (no more than basil, garlic and oil) to produce a gutsy, hearty soup. Though most traditionally done in late summer - you want good, ripe tomatoes for this, and preferably fresh beans, like cranberry - I make a pot of this as soon as the basil hits the market. Sometimes I make it in winter, just to remind myself that summer's coming. The recipe is a series of suggestions and it is eminently flexible. The zucchini and tomatoes, though not absolutely essential, are Provençal classics, but you can use whatever vegetables you can find as long as you finish the thing with basil.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories pastas, project, soups and stews, appetizer, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Put beans, onion, carrots, celery and potatoes in a large saucepan with water to cover by at least 2 inches. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 60 minutes (dried beans will take longer to cook than fresh), adding a little more water if necessary. When beans are just about tender, add zucchini and tomatoes and simmer for another 20 minutes or so.
- Meanwhile, combine garlic, basil and olive oil in a food processor (or a mortar and pestle) until pasty; use a little more oil if necessary. Season with salt and pepper.
- About 10 minutes before serving, add pasta to soup and cook until tender but not mushy; season again. Serve soup, passing pistou and Parmesan at the table.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 411, UnsaturatedFat 16 grams, Carbohydrate 54 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1107 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams
SOUPE AU PISTOU (VEGETABLE SOUP WITH PESTO)
The cookbook author and culinary historian Jessica B. Harris adapted this recipe from a meal she once had in the South of France at the home of James Baldwin, and it appears in her 2017 memoir, "My Soul Looks Back." It's a simple Provençal soup - French country cooking at its best - made with whatever vegetables are in season and brightened with generous spoonfuls of green pesto. You could use a vegetable stock or a light chicken stock instead of water, if you happen to have one, but there's no need: A good dollop of pesto will deliver a bright, garlicky flavor that permeates every bite.
Provided by Tejal Rao
Categories soups and stews, main course
Time 45m
Yield Serves 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Make the pistou: Purée the tomato, basil, parsley and garlic in a food processor. While the machine is running, drizzle in the oil. Add the cheese, and mix well, then transfer to a small bowl.
- Make the soup: In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, add celery, carrot, leek, thyme and olive oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the leek is starting to brown, about 10 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and 8 cups water, and bring to a boil, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes, then stir in remaining vegetables and pasta. Cook uncovered until the pasta is al dente and the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat, and stir in about half the pistou. Taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve with the rest of the pistou on the side, spooning it directly into the soup as needed.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 306, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 36 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 720 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients. Fresh vegetables, herbs, and pistou will give your soup the best flavor.
- Don't skimp on the pistou. Pistou is the key ingredient in this soup, so make sure you use a generous amount.
- Use a good quality vegetable broth. A good quality vegetable broth will give your soup a richer flavor.
- Simmer the soup for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together and develop.
- Serve the soup with a dollop of crème fraîche or yogurt. This will add a creamy richness to the soup.
Conclusion:
Soupe au pistou is a delicious and flavorful soup that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is also a great way to use up leftover vegetables. With its vibrant green color and fresh, herbaceous flavor, soupe au pistou is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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