Soupe au Pistou Recipe
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into thin slices
- 1/4 pound green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
- 1 pound boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cups drained canned diced tomatoes
- 1 quart (or more) canned low-salt chicken broth
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup drained and rinsed canned white beans, preferably cannellini
- 1/2 cup elbow macaroni or other small pasta
- 3 small cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
- In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the zucchini, green beans, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt, and the pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes longer.
- Add the potatoes, tomatoes, broth, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add the beans, pasta, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Continue simmering until the vegetables are tender and the pasta is cooked through, about 10 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.
- Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, puree the garlic, basil, and the remaining 4 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir 1/4 cup of this pistou into the soup. Serve the soup topped with the remaining pistou.
