Spring Vegetable Soup Pesto (Printable)
A vibrant dish combining tender spring vegetables with a swirl of flavorful basil pesto.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1 leek, white and light green parts only, sliced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
08 - 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
09 - 1 small potato, peeled and diced
10 - 5 cups vegetable broth
11 - 3.5 ounces baby spinach or chard, roughly chopped
→ Seasonings
12 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
13 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or herbes de Provence
15 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
→ Pesto
16 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto (homemade or high-quality store-bought)
→ Garnish (optional)
17 - Fresh basil leaves
18 - Grated Parmesan cheese (omit for vegan)
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and leek; sauté for 3 minutes until softened.
02 - Add the garlic, carrots, and potato. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Stir in the zucchini, green beans, and peas. Cook for another 2 minutes.
04 - Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
05 - Stir in the spinach or chard and cook for 2 minutes, until wilted.
06 - Season with salt, pepper, thyme, and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with a generous spoonful of pesto. Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan, if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Each bowl tastes like the farmers market on a perfect Saturday morning
- The pesto swirl transforms simple vegetables into something restaurant worthy
02 -
- Do not overcook the vegetables or you will lose that fresh spring texture
- The pesto should be added at the very end, never boiled into the soup
03 -
- Make your own pesto and freeze it in ice cube trays for portions that are ready whenever you need them
- Cut all vegetables into similar sizes so they cook evenly and no single ingredient overcooks