Feb 13, 2023, Updated Oct 04, 2023 Pull up your sweatpants, boys and girls. You are 7 simple ingredients and 30 minutes away from comfort food bliss.
Why you’re going to love this potato zucchini soup recipe
Comforting and filling. The warming taste and texture of this soup are really comforting, and the inclusion of potatoes will ensure you feel full for a while. Budget-friendly. Potatoes and zucchini are always around and won’t blow the bank. It’s a 30-minute, easy-to-make meal with minimal effort required. Perfect for busy weekdays or nights. Great as leftovers. This soup tastes better over time and is a good meal to have on standby in the fridge. Family-friendly; from kids to grandparents, this recipe goes down a treat with even the pickiest of eaters. It just walks the balance between healthy and delicious so elegantly it’s like poetry.
About the ingredients
Here is what you need to know about the simple vegetables and ingredients that make up this soup:
Butter, unsalted. If you only have salted, that’s fine too. In this case, go easy when you season the soup with salt. If you’d prefer, you can substitute the butter in this recipe for olive oil. Leek or onion. Leek is milder than onion and is packed with gut-friendly prebiotic fiber. I love to use it in soups to change things up, but you can absolutely use onion with perfect results. Fresh Garlic cloves. This elevates the flavors of the other veggies in this recipe and rounds off the overall taste of the soup. You can leave it out if you want to. Broth. Veggie or chicken broth will both work beautifully in this recipe. As the veggie flavors are quite mild, use a good quality store-bought broth as it will contribute to the end result. If you want to make your own homemade batch, that’ll be first prize. Russet potatoes. These soften up and mash in so easily. You can also use Yukon gold for this recipe if you can’t get your hands on any russets. Zucchini. Choose lovely plump zucchini for this recipe, take care selecting the good ones. Cream. For a really silky, lush soup, use heavy cream, but for a lighter version, feel free to swap in half-and-half. You could even use milk, but in that case, add a tablespoon of flour to the cooked onions and garlic and let it cook for a minute, then gradually whisk in the broth. Salt. I like using kosher salt and tasting it as I build up the seasoning. The saltiness of the soup will intensify as the soup stands over time. Black Pepper. I love this for a little pop of heat. White pepper is a real treat with potatoes too if you can find it.
How to make your own potato zucchini soup
Hold on to your spatulas; you’re not going to believe how easy this soup is to make:
Serving suggestions
Check out a few of my recipes that’ll go beautifully with this soup:
No-knead cheesy garlic bread fingers Oatmeal brown bread Skillet cornbread with a honey-butter glaze Five-minute artisan bread
Make ahead instructions
You can whip up this entire recipe ahead of time and let it wait for you in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you want to save a little time, parboil the potatoes a day or two before. When you’re ready to use them, you can add them to the soup as per the instructions. Just make sure you cover them and keep them in the fridge. The soup is so quick to make though that it’s unlikely this will save you too much time in the long run.
Storage Instructions
When you’re ready to store your soup, start by ensuring it’s cooled off completely. Next, package your soup in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. This soup will keep for 3 to 4 days if chilled in the fridge.
Variations of potato zucchini soup
This soup is a fantastic base recipe to add to. Here are a few ways to adjust this recipe:
Vegan version: to whip up a vegan version, substitute the cream for plant-based milk or coconut cream. Use veggie oil instead of butter and a veggie broth. Gluten-free version: this soup is naturally gluten free as long as you read the label to choose gluten free broth. Spicy: for a little punch, add some cayenne pepper or dried chili flakes to the pot. Diced jalapenos are a good addition too. Cheese and herbs: add 1/2 a cup of chopped fresh herbs and a little goat’s cheese or grated Parmesan just before serving. Basil, cilantro, and parsley will all do nicely. Hearty and whole: blend half the soup only and add the other half back to the pot with the creamy base. Add in a few diced carrots, mushrooms, and celery for a chunky version.
Pro tips and tricks
For an ultra-smooth soup, be sure to cook the potatoes until very tender. Add the zucchini once the potatoes are soft and cook until just tender. This preserves the beautiful bright green and fresh flavor. If using a standing blender that wasn’t designed for hot foods (unlike a Vitamix, which has steam vents), puree the soup in 2-3 batches, or the steam may blow the lid off. Wear oven mitts during the blending process.
Other soup recipes you won’t want to miss
Best-ever tomato soup recipe Sweet potato soup with coconut and corn Coconut squash soup with turmeric and ginger
