Make Ahead

Summertime "Zuke" Soup

June 28, 2010
4
4 Ratings
  • Serves 4 as an entree, 6 as a starter
Author Notes

These days I've been caught up in using lemon thyme from my herb garden in summer cooking, loving its citrus-floral flavor. Recently, I discovered the thick, tangy creaminess of cultured sour cream. It's wonderful in cool vegetable side dishes and cold soups. I like to prepare this soup in the morning to give it all day for the flavors to come together as it chills for our supper. —Lizthechef

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Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium-sized white onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds organic zucchini, trimed, thickly sliced and chopped
  • 1 organic carrot, grated
  • Kosher salt and ground white pepper
  • 3 cups homemade chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon thyme leaves, roughly chopped ( any fresh thyme will do)
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup cultured sour cream (I used "wallaby" from Whole Foods)
  • 1 teaspoon Meyer lemon zest (any fresh lemon zest)
  • Kosher salt and ground white pepper
Directions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the chopped onion and cook over medium heat until softened. Add the chopped zucchini, grated carrot and the stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, another 10-15 minutes, in covered skillet.
  2. Remove skillet from heat, uncover and allow mixture to cool for 30 minutes. Puree in blender in batches, keeping mixture slightly "chunky", then turn pureed soup into a large, non-reactive container. Add the thyme, half-and-half, sour cream and lemon zest. Stir well, then taste and correct seasoning, remembering that flavors will "set" as the day progresses - i.e. don't oversalt! Chill for at least 6 hours. If desired, garnish with a drizzle of best quality olive oil and a sprig of fresh lemon thyme.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

3 Reviews

MyCommunalTable July 1, 2010
I love summer soups. I sorta forget about making them. I have not used lemon thyme much and you have me intrigued. There you go again with your delicious Meyer lemons as well. New goal... find lemon thyme.
Lizthechef July 1, 2010
I've only found lemon thyme in nurseries to grow - but any fresh thyme works because of the added lemon zest!
Sagegreen June 28, 2010
Your soup looks very refreshing. I use Wallaby' cultured sour cream, too. It is the best.