Sarasota's Broccoli, Zucchini and Potato Soup

"A few things to chop, but well worth the taste. Fresh flavors, rich, but no cream. Herbs and fresh vegetables give this all it needs. The cheese and potatoes gives it a little creamy texture and then I love to finish it topped with a roasted tomato in bread crumbs. It just seems to make it perfect. A nice slice of fresh bread, any kind you have. Some good bread sticks would be wonderful. Now I like to make my own, but honestly I don't always have time. A nice short cut ... Pillsbury bread sticks, but make a mix of melted butter, garlic, dried Italian seasoning and brush after you twist them up. Then sprinkle on Parmesan cheese. If you bake these on parchment paper or foil sprayed with Pam ... no clean up. They are easy quick and simple."
 
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photo by FrenchBunny photo by FrenchBunny
photo by FrenchBunny
photo by FrenchBunny photo by FrenchBunny
Ready In:
1hr 5mins
Ingredients:
20
Yields:
4 large bowls
Serves:
8-10
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ingredients

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directions

  • The Start -- In a large pot, add the olive oil and heat to medium. Add the onion, garlic and leeks and cook until slightly soft, just 3-4 minutes.
  • Veggies -- Add the potatoes, zucchini and broccoli and cook just 1-2 minutes and then add the broth. Add the bay leaf and cook until the vegetables are soft. About 20 minutes. Don't forget to keep that cup of broccoli and potato to finish off the soup.
  • Puree -- Now I like to use my immersion blender, but you can also use a regular blender. You want to blend the soup until the mix is well pureed. Mix until you get a creamy and a smooth texture.
  • NOTE: Remove the bay leaf before you puree.
  • Add the remaining broccoli and potatoes and cook another 10 minutes until they get soft.
  • Finishing -- Once the final broccoli and potatoes are soft add the herbs, and any seasoning like the salt and pepper along with the cheese and just heat up. This isn't a thick chowder but a nice creamy soup. It is really good and light with tons of flavor.
  • NOTE: If you like it thicker, you can mix a little corn starch with some water to make a slurry and then add to the soup (just 1 tablespoon of each) and bring the soup to medium boil and it will thicken. For me -- I don't think it needs any thickening. But you can add that if you want.
  • My touch -- I love to serve this with a tomato I just roasted in the oven topped with olive oil and bread crumbs. Simply on a piece of foil. 10 minutes as the soup was finishing up. It is just the perfect finish. I used just a light drizzle of olive oil and then dredged in Italian dried bread crumbs. Roast at 425F for 10 minutes is all.
  • Drizzle a little olive oil as a garnish.

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Reviews

  1. This was so delicious! I followed exactly except used dried herbs. I even gave some to my baby (before adding parmesan and salt) and he loved it.
     
  2. Yummy stuff Sarasota. We really enjoyed this soup. I made the soup basically as written except maybe just a little less of some veggies case mine were huge. I thought the leeks were on steroids. I used chicken broth and I love to use the immersion blender. So much quicker and easier I find. I found the soup to be really thick after it was pureed, it sure didn't need any thickener. Flavors were exceptional. Thanks so much for your post of this recipe.
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>
 
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