RECIPE

Chilled Zucchini Soup with Purslane

  • ACTIVE: 25 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN Plus 3 hr chilling
  • SERVINGS: 12

Alain Coumont's cool vegan soup gets its creaminess from pureed zucchini, sautéed onion and garlic. It's brightened with purslane, a lemony weed that Coumont plucks from his Languedoc country garden; if purslane is not available at your local farmers' market, substitute baby arugula leaves instead.

  • ACTIVE: 25 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN
  • OTHER TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 12
  • HEALTHY
  • MAKE-AHEAD
  • VEGETARIAN

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
    1. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
    2. 1 small onion, thinly sliced
    3. 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
    4. 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
    5. 1 bay leaf
    6. 8 small zucchini (3 pounds), thinly sliced, plus long zucchini shavings for garnish
    7. Kosher salt
    8. 3 cups water
    9. 2 tablespoons finely shredded basil
    10. 2 cups ice
    11. Freshly ground pepper
    12. 2 cups purslane or baby arugula

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat until translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the thyme and bay leaf and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the sliced zucchini, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Discard the bay leaf and stir in the shredded basil.
  2. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until very smooth. Transfer the zucchini puree to a large bowl. Stir in the ice. Refrigerate the zucchini soup for at least 3 hours, until thoroughly chilled.
  3. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Ladle into shallow bowls and top with a small handful of purslane and zucchini shavings. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Make Ahead

The zucchini soup can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.