Chilled Cream Of Zucchini Soup With Mussels And Fresh Mint Recipes

CHILLED CREAM OF ZUCCHINI SOUP WITH MUSSELS AND FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, garlic, and thyme; sauté until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add 4 cups stock and wine; bring to boil. Add mussels; cover and cook until mussels open, about 5 minutes (discard any mussels that do not open). Using slotted spoon, transfer mussels to large bowl; cool slightly. Remove mussels from shells; cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Strain stock mixture and any accumulated mussel liquid into medium bowl; discard vegetables.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini; sauté until tender but not brown, about 20 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups strained stock. Bring to boil. Cool slightly. Puree zucchini soup in batches in blender until smooth. Transfer to large saucepan; mix in cream. Thin with more strained stock, if desired. Reserve any remaining stock for another use. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours. (Soup and mussels can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover separately; keep chilled.)
• Divide zucchini soup among 6 bowls. Top each with mussels, dividing equally. Sprinkle with mint.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI-YOGURT SOUP WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Place the water in the bottom of a saucepan fitted with a steamer and bring to a boil. Place the zucchini in the steamer, set over the boiling water, cover and steam 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Do not drain the steaming water.
• Place half the zucchini in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, add 3/4 teaspoons salt, and puree until smooth. Add half the steaming water and pulse until smooth. Scrape into a bowl, and repeat with the remaining zucchini and steaming water, and another 3/4 teaspoon salt. Scrape into the bowl with the first batch. Whisk in the yogurt, the chopped mint, pepper, lemon juice, and optional garlic. Taste and adjust salt. Chill, either in the refrigerator or in an ice bath.
• Strain the cold soup through a medium strainer into a bowl. Use a rubber spatula to press the soup against the strainer and to scrape the soup off the outside of the strainer, to extract maximum flavor and to get as much soup through as you can.
• Toss the thinly sliced zucchini garnish with a generous pinch of salt and place in a strainer set over a bowl, or in the sink. Let sit for 15 minutes. The zucchini will soften. Rinse and pat dry. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with several slices of zucchini and a sprinkle of slivered mint leaves.

ZUCCHINI-MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Add zucchini; cook, stirring occasionally, until skins turn bright green, about 3 minutes. Add stock and 1 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, partially covered, until zucchini is tender, about 12 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Puree zucchini mixture in a food processor. Return to pan. Stir in 1 tablespoon mint. Season with salt, if desired. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon mint. Serve immediately. Keep warm on stove over medium-low heat, if necessary.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Pour water into the saucepan and bring to a boil. Add 4 sprigs of mint and zucchini. Reduce heat to low and simmer soup, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove mint.
• Stir together cornstarch and cold water and add to the soup. Increase heat to medium and whisk cornstarch mixture so soup thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Chill soup in the refrigerator until cold, about 2 hours. Before serving, add lemon juice and garnish with remaining mint, basil, and remaining olive oil.

COLD CREAM OF MUSSEL SOUP WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, onions and garlic. Stir for about two minutes. Add the flour and saffron. Blend with a wire whisk and cook for one minute. Blend in the white wine and Tabasco sauce, then add the mussels and parsley. Blend well. Cover and cook until the mussels have opened, about five minutes.
• Add the cream and half-and-half and bring just to a boil. Strain through a fine sieve.
• Remove the mussels from the shells and discard the shells. Add the mussels to the strained soup and chill in the refrigerator.
• When ready to serve, add the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve in chilled soup bowls or cups with chervil or parsley sprinkled on top.

CHILLED ZUCCHINI-YOGURT SOUP WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Pour the water into a saucepan fitted with a steamer and bring to a boil. Place the zucchini in the steamer, set over the boiling water, cover and steam for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool for about five minutes. Do not drain the steaming water.
• Place half the zucchini in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, add 3/4 teaspoon salt, and puree until smooth. Add half the steaming water, then pulse until smooth. Scrape into a bowl, and repeat with the remaining zucchini and steaming water and another 3/4 teaspoon salt. Scrape into the bowl with the first batch. Whisk in the yogurt, the chopped mint, pepper, lemon juice and (optional) garlic. Taste and adjust salt. Chill in the refrigerator or in an ice bath.
• Pour the cold soup through a medium strainer into a bowl. In order to extract maximum flavor, use a rubber spatula to press the soup against the strainer and to scrape soup from the outside.
• Toss the thinly sliced zucchini garnish with a generous pinch of salt, and place in a strainer set over a bowl or in the sink. Let sit for 15 minutes. The zucchini will soften. Rinse and pat dry. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with several slices of zucchini and a sprinkle of slivered mint leaves.

CHILLED MINTED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• In a 31/2- to 4-quart heavy saucepan heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté one third zucchini, stirring occasionally, until golden. Add remaining zucchini and water and simmer until zucchini is very tender, about 15 minutes. Cool mixture slightly and in a blender purée in batches until smooth, transferring to a bowl. Stir in yogurt, mint, and salt and pepper to taste. Chill soup, covered, at least until cold, about 6 hours, and up to 1 day. Before serving, season with salt and pepper if necessary.

CHILLED MINTED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan heat oil over medium-low heat until hot but not smoking and sauté one third of the zucchini, stirring occasionally, until golden.
• Add remaining zucchini and water and simmer until zucchini is very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Cool mixture slightly and in a blender puree in batches until smooth, transferring to a bowl.
• Stir in yoghurt, mint, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Chill soup, covered, at least until cold, about 6 hours, and up to 1 day (after that, it will lose its fresh taste).
• Before serving, season with salt and pepper, if necessary.

EASY CHILLED ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Cook onion in oil for 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and curry powder. Add zucchini, water, broth, and potato. Season with salt. Reduce heat and let simmer until tender, about 25 minutes.
• Puree mixture using an immersion blender until smooth. Let cool to room temperature or chill until cold, about 30 minutes. Serve with almonds.