Herb Society Of Nashville

Author: Chilled Zucchini Soup
Date of publish: 10/30/2022

***July-August 2022 Dinner Group Winner***

Chilled Zucchini Soup

 

"This recipe came about as a happy accident, when my nephew mistook zucchini for cucumbers when we were making a cold cucumber soup," chef Vishwesh Bhatt says of the origins of this dish. More than a decade later, he stands by the result, which has a tangy buttermilk broth that gets subtle vegetal sweetness and a wonderfully smooth, creamy texture from the zucchini. Small, tender zucchini are perfect for this soup. If you're using bigger ones, remove the seeds, which harden a little as the squash matures, Bhatt notes. "It becomes a little less fun if you get those in the soup, as you have to chew on them, or they get stuck in your teeth." Bhatt tops the soup with vaghaar, a garnish of tempered spices and aromatics, for a final burst of aroma and flavor.

Ingredients:
Soup:
1 medium-size fresh poblano chile (about 3 ounces)
2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil (such as canola oil)
½ cup chopped yellow onion (from 1 small onion)
½ cup chopped fennel (from 1 medium fennel bulb)
3 medium garlic clove, finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
5 cups chopped zucchini (from 2 large [12-ounce] zucchini)
3 cups vegetable stock
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 small lemon)
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

 

Vaghaar (Garnish):
2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil
1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
2 whole star anise
1 chile de árbol, broken in half
1 (4-inch) curry sprig

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to broil with rack 6 inches from heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place poblano on prepared baking sheet. Broil in preheated oven until skin is charred all over, about 10 minutes, turning occasionally using tongs. Remove from oven; transfer poblano to a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and set aside 10 minutes to steam. Transfer poblano to a cutting board; peel off and discard skin. Remove and discard seeds and stem. Chop poblano, and set aside.
2) Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add mustard seeds; cook, tossing constantly, until seeds start to pop, 15 to 20 seconds. Add star anise, chile de árbol, and curry sprig; cook, tossing and swirling constantly, until curry leaves start to crackle and wilt, about 1 minute. Pour hot mixture onto soup. Stir, add additional salt to taste, and serve.

Source: 
https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chilled-zucchini-soup