Creamy Zucchini Soup With Mixed Herbs

Submitted by Chef #989720

"Taken from Cooking Light. Vegan recipe if you use vegetable stock instead of chicken. Parsley, tarragon, and chives are tossed with a light dressing and floated atop the soup on crostini. Pureeing the soup gives it body. Use extra caution when blending hot ingredients by holding a towel over the blender lid."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 16
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 1 1⁄2 cups chopped onions
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 9 cups sliced zucchini (about 2 1/2 pounds)
• 5 cups reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 French baguette (about 4 ounces)
• cooking spray
• 1 garlic clove, halved
• 3⁄4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper

directions

1. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and minced garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add zucchini, broth, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until zucchini is very tender. Let stand 5 minutes.
2. Place half of the zucchini mixture in a blender; cover tightly, and process until smooth. Pour pureed zucchini mixture into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining zucchini mixture. Place pureed zucchini mixture in pan. Cook over low heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Keep warm.
3. Preheat oven to 400°.
4. Place bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Coat bread with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 5 minutes or until toasted. Rub bread with cut sides of garlic clove.
5. Place parsley, tarragon, and chives in a small bowl. Combine 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, juice, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Pour over parsley mixture; toss well.
6. Spoon 1 cup soup into each of 8 bowls. Divide parsley mixture evenly over toasted bread slices. Top each serving with 2 bread slices. Serve immediately.