Recipes

Pairs Well With

• Chardonnay

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter

1 small yellow or white onion, diced

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

1½ teaspoons ground turmeric

6-8 small to medium zucchini, trimmed and chopped

— Kosher salt

6 cups homemade chicken broth or stock

1 medium Romanesco zucchini, trimmed and cut into medium julienne

— Black pepper in a mill

— Juice of ½ lemon, if needed

¼ cup fresh basil leaves, stems removed, leaves thinly shredded

1/3 cup creme fraiche

Preparation

Put 2 tablespoons of the butter into a medium soup pot set over medium-low heat, add the onion and sauté until soft and fragrant, about 12 minutes. Do not let the onion brown.

Add half the garlic, the ginger, and 1 teaspoon of the turmeric to the onions, season with salt, stir, and add the zucchini. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Season with salt and pour in the chicken broth or stock. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook until the zucchini is tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.

While the soup cooks, sauté the julienned zucchini. To do so, put the remaining butter into a medium sauté pan and when it is melted, add the zucchini and remaining garlic. Sauté, tossing frequently, until just barely tender; season with salt and pepper, remove from the heat and set aside.

Remove the soup from the heat and let rest for about 5 minutes so that it cools slightly. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth or pass through a food mill.

Taste, season with black pepper, correct for salt and taste again. If it seems a little flat or bland, stir in the lemon juice. Pour into a large container, cover, and refrigerate at least 3 hours and as long as overnight. Cover and chill the julienned zucchini, too.

Remove the julienne zucchini from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving. Stir it gently.

Shortly before serving, put the creme fraiche into a small bowl, add the turmeric, several turns of black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Stir well.

To serve, ladle into chilled soup plates. Scatter julienned zucchini and shredded basil over the top, add a generous dollop of the creme fraiche and enjoy right away.

Recipe by Michele Anna Jordan; author of 24 cookbooks. Reach her at michele@micheleannajordan.com