Provencal Vegetable Soup

Pneuma's Note:

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.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6-8

Yield: 6.0 bowls

• 1 ½ cups fresh broad beans, shelled or ¾ cup dried haricot beans , soaked overnight
• ½ teaspoon dried herbes de provence
• 2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion , finely chopped
• 1 large leek , finely sliced (or 2 small)
• 1 celery rib , finely sliced
• 2 carrots , finely diced
• 2 small potatoes , finely diced
• 4 ounces French beans
• 5 cups water
• 1 cup shelled garden peas (fresh or frozen)
• 2 small courgettes , finely chopped
• 3 medium tomatoes , peeled, seeded and finely chopped
• handful spinach leaves , cut into thin ribbbons
• salt & freshly ground black pepper , as needed
• 1 sprig fresh basil , to garnish

For the Pistou

• 1 -2 garlic clove , finely chopped
• ½ cup basil leaves , packed
• 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese , grated
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. To make the pistou: mix in the food processor the 1st 3 pistou ingredients until smooth, adding the extra virgin oil last.
2. 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.
3. In a large saucepan or flameproof casserole heat the oil. Add onion and leeks, cook for 5 minutes, stir occasionally, until onion softens.
4. Add celery, carrots and the other garlic clove and cook, covered for 10 minutes, stirring.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Reviews

[French Tart]

I made this exactly as posted for an Autumn supper for my parents (who are vegetarians) and I. It was lovely, packed full of vegetables. I cheated and used a pistou I bought from the deli, other than that it was made as posted. We ate this with crusty bread and some grated cheese on top. Made for Aussie Recipe Swap #33, merci Pneuma! FT:-) (No photo as Sarah Jayne's is lovely and I am away from home with no proper area to photograph!!)

[katew]

I am soup mad and this was great - I had to sub lentils for the haricot beans and added a green pepper but made no other changes - great for a wintry Melbourne Sunday like today - made and greatly enjoyed for ZWT5

[BakinBaby]

Merci! Veggie soup is one of our favorites, this will be great during soup season. The pisto really brings it to life. I didn't have fresh basil, so used canned pisto and it was okay and used canned beans. This summer when I have lots of fresh basil, I will certainly make again. Made for the Epicurean Queen Team, ZWT5. My picture didn't turn out as good as Sarah's so I'll not post. Thanks for a real keeper.