This week’s Cook the Book Fridays recipe from David Lebovitz’s My Paris Kitchen was a simple vegetable soup with a basil purée (pistou, like pesto but without the nuts) was one I made a few days before leaving for France and which I lived off for those few days for both lunches and dinner (quick and easy to serve when you’ve got a “to do” list a mile long!). It was the perfect not-quite-summer dish – light enough to enjoy in the middle of a warm-ish day but warming on a chilly late-spring evening. I followed David’s recipe to a T, except that I went the canned chickpeas instead of the dried beans route which saved me a lot of time. The recipe could really work with any canned beans but I’m sure it’s more authentic following David’s recipe. In any case, it’s one I’ll remember because I loved the flavour (the pistou really is something!) and it’s a soup I could see myself making again in the warm weather (you can’t say that about many soups!). I also added some shredded chicken to some of the leftovers and it was délicieux!
Get the recipe for David Lebovitz’s Vegetable soup with basil purée here or on p 92 of My Paris Kitchen.
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Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of “My Paris Kitchen” for review purposes. I was not asked to write about the book, nor am I being compensated for doing so. All opinions 100% my own.
Just reading the recipe brought back pleasant memories of France. You’re right – the pistou. The French got that right. Lovely photo.
Right? It’s a good thing, pistou!
I love the idea of making a vegetable soup with chickpea. Picture perfect!
Thanks! I think whatever beans/ légumes you have might work well here!
Looking good that bowl of soup! I skipped the pasta but wished I had leftover chicken! And I used Thai basil instead of sweet! A lovely soup where any substitutes work!
Yes I think it’s a great soup that works with a lot of different variations!
Happy you liked the soup. I sometimes make 2x the pistou because I can’t help adding more, and more…and…
Yup, I can TOTALLY see that. It’s a little bit addictive that pistou!
This was such a perfect meal, one that really surprised me. I shared some with Tricia and her hubby, and they loved it too. I think there are so many variations to be made here, both with the veggies and the type of beans used.
Oh definitely it’s SO versatile!