Skip to main content

Pistou

By
Every culture seems to have its own version of vegetable soup.  In America, we have vegetable (+/- beef); Italy has minestrone; Spain has gazpacho....  En France, on mange une bonne soupe qu'on appelle "pistou."  (For those of you who don't speak French, the bold words are the ones to which you need to direct your attention.)

So, here is another soup recipe for the season!  In my mind, the French pistou is more of a summer (perhaps into early fall) option, but it is certainly delicious all year round.  This vegetarian dish demands to be coupled with a dense, warm bread.

Pistou 
(Anouchka & Habibi's Version)
Serves 4


Ingredients:
  • ½ cup of baby carrots, diced
  • 1 russet potato, diced
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes (I prefer the No Salt Added varieties.)
  • 1 container (4 cups) of Kitchen Basics Unsalted Vegetable Cooking Stock
  • 1 ½ cups of sliced yellow squash (Pictsweet has a good frozen option.)
  • Approx. 2/3 cup (86 g) of white pearl onions (Birds Eye has a good frozen option.)
  • ½ cup of frozen sweet peas
  • ½ cup of frozen, cut green beans
  • ½ cup of chick peas/garbanzos (Canned varieties are great.)
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
  • ¼ teaspoon of sea salt (I like Alessi 100% Natural Fine Sea Salt.)
  • 3 tablespoons of prepared pesto (Better Homes & Gardens has an excellent recipe that my family swears by.  Here’s a hint:  Use walnuts instead of pine nuts to save a little money.  Also, you may wish to add a splash of lemon juice to give it a zip and to preserve the beautiful green color.)
  • A healthy amount of fresh/dried basil and oregano.

Instructions:
  • Using a fork, poke several sets of holes into the russet potato.  Wrap in a paper towel and pop in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, place everything else (except the pesto, salt & herbs) in a Dutch oven or stock pot and bring to a boil.
  • Once the potato is cool enough to handle, cut into small cubes (approx. 1 inch or so).  Add to the pot.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer and cover, stirring occasionally.  Add the salt and herbs to taste.
  • I don’t know how long I cook it normally, but once all the veggies are tender and hot then you’ll know it’s done. ;)
  • Before serving, add a small spoonful of your delicious pesto and enjoy!

Nutrition (based on 4 servings):
  • Calories:  223
  • Carbohydrates:  28
  • Fiber:  5
  • Protein:  8
  • Sodium:  584
  • Calcium:  11
 Bon appétit, mes chers!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Comment if you wish. Or don't.

Popular posts from this blog

Let's be frank...

By
Habibi and I are not at all fanciful.  In fact, every time I try to do something cute (and/or Pinterest-y), I end up frustrated and with egg on my face.  So, we've just decided to embrace our straightforward, blunt way of doing things.  To give you an idea of how we roll, let me tell you a little bit about our life journey together... On our second date, I told Habibi that I really wasn't interested in ever getting married.  Sure I like liked  him ("like liking" would soon change to love), but it just wasn't something I planned for my future.  Seven months later when he proposed (see how that went for me?), I simply said yes.  There was no video, no fireworks, no wild story, no pictures.  He told me to close my eyes (I insisted on sitting on the floor if I had to close my eyes because I was afraid he'd push me on the ground) and when I opened them, there he was, on one knee, holding a ring.  Afterwards, we kissed and he told me I had co...
3 comments
Read more

I Am So A Hipster: The Hipster's Way of Letting You Know That He/She Is Not, In Fact, A Hipster

By
I just got home from having a great coffee date with a great friend. For those of you who know me personally, you will recall that I am somewhat awkward socially.  A few weeks back, my friend and I decided we wanted to meet for coffee at a local chocolaterie .  (We both lived/studied in France and anything with a European flair makes us nostalgic.)  Now, this may be news to her if she is reading this post, but my first awkward moment was when she walked in the door.   Do I get up and give her a hug since I haven't seen her in nearly two years?   (A normally functioning person would have done so.)   Do I give her a high five?   ( Not  what higher thinkers typically do.)   What????   (Yes, these are the things that plague my brilliant mind.)  Fortunately, she was graceful enough to have seemingly overlooked my stiff greeting and we were able to begin reminiscing. After a wonderful and uplifting chat about France, running, gossipin...
3 comments
Read more

The Joys of Fall and Eating Dinner

By
When I was just a little tike, I learned a song about Halloween.  The lyrics went something like this: Jack-O-Lantern, Jack-O-Lantern, You are such a pretty sight, As you sit there in the window, Looking out on the night! You were once a yellow pumpkin, Growing on a sturdy vine. Now you are a Jack-O-Lantern, See the candlelight shine! I know it isn't exactly Hemingway (thank goodness), but poor Habibi found me singing it to myself in the bathroom this morning as I was getting ready for the day.  (Oh, shut up.)  For your enjoyment (obviously) I've included the inspiration for my morning concert below: WE GOT TO CARVE OUR PUMPKIN LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! I love Halloween.  Every year around this time I start to get the jitters as though something terribly exciting and adventurous is about to happen.  I love the crunch of fall leaves, crispy mornings, eerie evenings and smoky nights.  Spooky stories, haunted houses, the s...
3 comments
Read more