Spring Vegetable Soup Pesto (Printable)
Fresh spring vegetables simmered gently and finished with aromatic basil pesto, bursting with flavor.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1 small leek, white and light green parts, sliced
06 - 3.5 oz green beans, trimmed and cut into 3/4 inch pieces
07 - 3.5 oz asparagus, trimmed and cut into 3/4 inch pieces
08 - 3.5 oz peas, fresh or frozen
09 - 3.5 oz baby spinach
10 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
→ Broth & Seasonings
11 - 5 cups vegetable broth
12 - 1 bay leaf
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
14 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
→ Pesto
15 - 1.5 oz fresh basil leaves
16 - 1 oz pine nuts
17 - 1 small garlic clove
18 - 1.5 oz grated Parmesan cheese
19 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and leek, and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened but not browned.
02 - Stir in garlic, carrots, and zucchini. Cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add green beans, asparagus, and bay leaf. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
04 - Add peas and cook for 5 minutes more, then add the spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1–2 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
05 - Season the soup with salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
06 - In a food processor, blend basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan. With the motor running, slowly add olive oil until a smooth, spoonable paste forms. Season with salt and pepper.
07 - Ladle the soup into bowls and swirl a generous spoonful of pesto into each serving. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The pesto swirling through the broth makes every spoon feel luxurious
- You can use whatever vegetables look freshest at the market
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day
02 -
- Do not overcook the vegetables or they will lose their bright color and fresh taste
- The pesto is what elevates this from everyday soup to something special, so do not skip it
03 -
- Toast your pine nuts in a dry pan before making the pesto for deeper flavor
- If the soup seems too thick, add more broth a little at a time until it reaches your preferred consistency