Name: Zucchini and Leek Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 4 medium zucchini; 1 large leek (washed and sliced); 2 ounces butter; 1 large carrot (peeled and sliced); 1 large potato (peeled and sliced); 6 cups chicken stock (use vegetable stock for a vegetarian soup); ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon pepper; ¼ cup cream; 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped fresh to garnish)

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Zucchini and leeks combine to make a wonderfully green soup. Light and refreshing, this soup can be served hot or cold, but being ever so Irish, I like it hot.

Inspired by the more traditional Irish recipe for potato and leek soup, I love to make this soup when I have lots of zucchini on hand. Or perhaps I should give this soup its European name, courgette and leek soup.

Zucchini or courgette and leek soup — Zucchini and Leek Soup

Courgettes or Zucchini
Ingredients for Zucchini and Leek Soup
Directions for Zucchini and Leek Soup
Recipe Card for Leek and Zucchini Soup

Courgettes or Zucchini

I remember when I first came to America, I had no idea what on earth a zucchini might be. I remember searching for courgettes in the grocery store only to spot them under the strangely named sign "zucchini".

And then I checked a little closer and discovered that what I called an aubergine bore the strange title of "egg plant" in the good old USA.

My ongoing American evolution continued at the grocery store with never ending culinary lessons and naming tips.

At the end of every summer I often hear my green thumbed neighbors searching for zucchini recipes, when they are blessed with an abundant crop of these nutritious and easy-to-grow vegetables. This soup is my answer to their recipe pleas.

And so without further ado, here is my recipe for zucchini and leek, or courgette and leek soup.

Remember, it's green coloring makes it perfect for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Ingredients for Zucchini and Leek Soup

Here's a quick list of ingredinets.

Check out the printable recipe at the end of this post for exact quantities in US or Metric measurements.

zucchini (washed and sliced)
leek (washed and sliced)
butter
carrot (peeled and sliced)
potato (peeled and sliced)
chicken stock
salt and pepper to season
whipping cream
parsley (to garnish if desired)

Directions for Zucchini and Leek Soup

Let's take a look at how to make this soup. Here's a step-by-step photographic tutorial.

Sliced leeks being washed in a bowl of water

Prepare the vegetables carefully. Leeks can contain dirt trapped between the inner layers of the vegetables, so it’s very important to wash them well. If you need some tips on how to wash and prepare leeks check out my recipe for potato and leek soup.

Sliced courgettes or zucchini, potato and carrot for soup — Sliced vegetables for zucchini soup

Wash the zucchini, then slice them skin and all. I find the outer skin adds flavor to this soup. Peel and slice the carrot and potato.

Melting butter in a dutch oven for soup — Melting butter in a soup pot

Melt the butter over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or pan.

Add the sliced vegetables and stir to completely cover them in butter. This coating of butter is important for sweating the vegetables and helping them to not stick to the bottom of the pan.

Sliced zucchini, leeks, potato and carrot for soup — Zucchini and leeks in a pot for soup

Cover the pot and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes to sweat the vegetables.

Shake the pot occasionally to prevent the vegetables from sticking. It's important not to brown the vegetables, but merely to soften them in the steamy pot.

Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the soup for 20 minutes. Remember, gentle heat is very important for cooking soups.

Tender vegetables in stock before pureeing soup — Zucchini and leek soup before blitzing

When simmered enough, the vegetables will be fork tender. The trick to a nicely textured soup is to cook the zucchini and the leeks long enough to make them nice and soft before whizzing them with the blender.

Puréeing soup with an immersion blender — Using an immersion blender to blitz soup

Turn off the heat and allow the soup to cool slightly before blending it until smooth. An immersion blender works great, or else blend it in batches in a liquidizer.

Adding whipping cream to soup purée — Adding cream to soup

Add the cream and stir well to blend completely. Reheat over a gentle heat without boiling.

Serve this soup warm or cold, and garnish with parsley if desired.

Zucchini and leek soup with brown bread — Brown bread served with a bowl of zucchini and leek soup

Irish brown bread is a tasty accompaniment to this soup. Irish potato bread is another great partner for soup.

But whether you like your soup all on its lonesome, or with a nice slice of bread, I hope you enjoy this zucchini and leek soup as much as I do.

Recipe Card for Leek and Zucchini Soup

Here's the printable recipe card.

Zucchini and Leek Soup

Zucchini and leeks combine to make a wonderfully green soup with a delicate onion flavor from the leeks.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: Irish Soup, Leek, Zucchini

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 50

Servings:

Calories: 204kcal

Ingredients

4 medium zucchini
1 large leek washed and sliced
2 ounces butter
1 large carrot peeled and sliced
1 large potato peeled and sliced
6 cups chicken stock use vegetable stock for a vegetarian soup
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup cream
1 tablespoon parsley chopped fresh to garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Melt the butter over medium heat in a large Dutch oven or pan. Add the sliced vegetables and stir to completely cover in butter.
Cover the pot and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes to sweat the vegetables. Shake the pot occasionally to prevent the vegetables from sticking. Do not brown the vegetables.
Add the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the soup for 20 minutes. The vegetables will be fork tender.
Turn off the heat and allow the soup to cool slightly before blending it until smooth.
Add the cream and stir well to blend completely. Reheat over a gentle heat without boiling.
Garnish with parsley, if desired, before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Zucchini and Leek Soup

Amount Per Serving (250 g)

Calories 204 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 403mg18%

Potassium 693mg20%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 2214IU44%

Vitamin C 30mg36%

Calcium 43mg4%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.

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I hope you enjoy this soup and a little taste of Ireland.