If you're wondering how to make a simple vegetable soup phenomenally delicious, look no further than pistou. It's very similar to Italian pesto, which I've pledged my love to over and over including classic basil pesto, almond pesto (and that's not all!) on this blog, but pistou is of French origin and is made without nuts and, in its most classic form, without cheese.
Though fall and winter aren't the seasons for fresh basil, it seems you can always find it. Or, maybe you've been wise (I wish I had been!) and made a huge batch of pesto or pistou from a glut of summer basil and have frozen it in ice cube trays to use during the colder months. For this soup, I found fresh basil at a street market - one of the many markets we've visited during our stay here.
Learning to navigate the farmer's markets in Paris begins as overwhelm when you don't speak the language, but it's worth the effort even if you never learn how to ask for things beyond the smile and mime.
Here's a peek into what it's like.
There are dozens of street markets across the city that pop up throughout the week (here's a wonderful schedule of them by day of the week). The markets are separated into stalls: fruit and vegetables (legumes), cheese (fromage) and sometimes yogurt, meat, fish and seafood, bread and pastries, prepared foods like pasta and pies, and still others that have spices, nuts, dried fruits, honey and conserves. Then there are stalls with clothing, others with leather goods and more.
I've found that having a meal or two in mind and a short list makes the street market experience the most fun. I don't recommend trying to shop for a week, as you might in the supermarket. Make a pass of the whole market before you buy anything, smiling and greeting the shop owners with a simple 'bonjour' should your eyes meet, because that's half of the fun of being there. Then on the second pass buy what's on your list, allowing yourself to be easily swayed by a perfectly ripe fennel bulb or crimson carrot that is not on your list but catches your eye.
It was a sunny October day when we went shopping for the ingredients for a few soups: French Onion Soup and Vegetarian French Onion Soup, Potato Leek Soup and this soup too, so it's full of fall vegetables. But the beauty of this kind of recipe is it's versatility! I look forward to entirely new versions in the winter, spring and summer.
And with fall in mind (and late summer where I live in Bend, Oregon), I want to introduce you to fresh shell beans if you haven't been acquainted. We discovered them in Florence, Italy, served simply with good olive oil and a generous sprinkle of salt - a dish that had us returning to the same restaurant three times in a week and left us pining for them long after.
They are easy to prepare and absolutely creamy and delicious. I like to cook them separately from the soup. That way we can eat some on their own and the rest, along with the cooking liquid, in the soup.
If you can't find fresh shell beans, cook some dried white beans (simple slow cooker recipe for that in this post), or add a can or two of drained cannelini beans. And don't feel tied to this list of ingredients - add whatever is in season in your area and looks the best on the day you shop.
And the pistou, I can't wait for you to try it! Whatever season, you'll find that it takes a simple vegetable soup from pleasant to extraordinary.
Vegetable Soup au Pistou
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh shell beans shucked, or two cans cannelini beans, drained
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 large carrots chopped
- 4 ribs celery chopped
- 4 medium leeks trimmed and chopped
- 4 medium yellow potatoes diced
- 10 to 12 cups water just enough to cover the vegetables (include the cooking water from beans if you like)
- 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
For the Pistou:
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 2 oz fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
To Finish:
- grated Gruyere cheese sprinkled over each bowl
- extra-virgin olive oil swirled over each bowl
Instructions
- Cover shelled beans with enough water just to cover, bring to boil and add a generous pinch of salt. Reduce heat and simmer 25-30 minutes until just tender. Remove from heat.
- In a large soup pot heat olive oil, add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir for about 3 minutes. Add leeks and potato; cook and stir 3 minutes more.
- Add enough water just to cover the vegetables (10-12 cups) and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add cooked beans and simmer 10 to 15 minutes more, until potatoes are tender.
- To make the pistou: with a food processor running add garlic salt and basil leaves through the shoot. Process until minced. Drizzle in olive oil and process just until combined. Transfer pistou to a small bowl. (You can also use a mortar and pestle for this or, in a pinch, just a sharp knife stirring in the olive oil at the end.)
- Once soup is done, taste for seasoning. Add salt to taste.
- Ladle soup into bowls, topping eacy with a large scoop of pistou, generous sprinkle of grated Gruyere and a drizzle of olive oil.
12 cups of water make it more watery than in the photo and in taste. Next time I make this I'm going to try 10 cups or less.
Thanks so much for letting me know, Stacey! I bet it's the volume of veggies that makes the difference. Really, what IS a 'medium potato.' I updated the wording - "Add enough water just to cover the vegetables (10-12 cups) and bring to boil." Thanks again! 🙂
This sounds like it's just been a stellar trip and I envy the length of time you guys have there. Bravo for you to be able to do it and explore. Love this soup, perfect for this rainy evening here in San Diego. Yes, it's actually raining. 🙂
Thank you, Kevin! And hooray for rain!!!!
You crack me up, Kathleen! Really, though, what better place to camp then at the farmer's market? 🙂
Oh, Marissa.... your pictures from the markets look incredible! I think I could pitch a tent right there in the middle and just live there 🙂 I love all of the wonderful fresh veggies in this soup - perfect for the cool weather, this is definitely going on my to-do list. Cheers, sweetie!
This soup looks so dreamy, Marissa! Perfect thing to cozy up with on a cold fall day. I love pistou and agree that it completely transform soup into a scrumptious meal! Also, basil is my favorite thing ever so there's that too 😉
Basil is amazing, isn't it!? Even though I know it's not technically 'seasonal' to eat it in the winter, I'm still likely to snatch it up if I see it in the grocery store. 🙂
Yum! What a healthy, tasty look soup!
Thanks, Sabrina!
Adding pistou is such a flavour boost! And thanks for that handy link on the market schedule too! 😀 I hope you're having an awesome time!
Thanks, Lorraine! Yes, so much fun. When you're here, definitely go to the Sunday Raspail market - it's awesome! xo
I love fresh beans and they remind me of my grandmother's cooking! I can rarely find them around here. This soup is all I need right now! Love the recipe!
Thank you , Mira. That's so sweet that they remind you of your grandma's cooking. I have a hard time finding them where I live too - bummer, because I love them. xo
This looks absolutely delicious- I'd never heard of pistou before, but anything vaguely related to pesto? I'm there 🙂 Pinning!
Thank you, Medha!
Wow, what a gorgeous healthy meal. Your photos make it look all the more delicious - such lovely light!
Hope you're still having a wonderful time over there - have you been finding some good restaurants?
Thanks so much, Helen! It's been challenging trying to photograph food with my iPhone, but there was no way that I was going to tote my DSLR halfway across the world. 🙂 We've been eating out some, but mostly cooking simply at home. Poulette has been a highlight - next time you're in Paris, I highly recommend it!
Hi Marissa! OMG the markets! You must be getting dizzy looking at all that fresh produce and breads and meat and seafood! Yes, I know I said "and" too many times, but I couldn't help myself! Paris is pure Heaven to a foodie! You and Keith are so fortunate to be able to travel to food wonderlands! 🙂
You always make me smile, Dorothy! 🙂 We are definitely loving these markets and taking full advantage while we're here!! xo