Soupe au Pistou

This is a great informal meal for a crowd. It’s meant to be served warm rather than hot, so there are fewer worries about timing. Start with some saucisse sèche for your guests to nibble on. Then serve the soup and pass the pistou (make sure your significant other eats some of the pungent garlic basil paste as well). Add some sourdough bread and a well-chosen cheese plate to complete your meal.

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Course Main Dish

Cuisine French, Provencal

Servings People

Ingredients

For the Soup

3 quarts Water
2 tsp Coarse sea salt or 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 lb (2-3 medium) Ripe tomatoes
1½ lbs Unshelled fresh cranberry beans 12 ounces shelled, about 2 cups
1½ lbs Unshelled fresh white beans 12 ounces shelled, about 2 cups
½ lb Broad beans cut into 1-inch pieces
14 oz Green Beans cut into 1-inch pieces
1½ lbs (3 medium) Zucchini cut into bite-size cubes
¾ lb (3 small) Potatoes cut into bite-size cubes
1 cup Small elbow macaroni optional

For the pistou

7 large Garlic Cloves
1 cup basil leaves packed
¼ tsp Coarse sea salt
¼ cup olive oil
Grated Parmesan or Red Mimolette cheese To serve

Instructions

In a large stockpot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil with the salt.
Add the whole tomatoes and blanch for 3 minutes. (This makes it easier to remove the skin.)
Remove the tomatoes and rinse under cold water until cool enough to handle. Peel, seed, and chop the tomatoes.
Add the tomatoes and other vegetables to the pot, simmer for 1 hour or a bit longer, until the beans are perfectly tender. Note: If using, add the macaroni about 20 minutes before the end.
While the soup is cooking, get out your food processor. Whiz together the garlic, basil leaves, and salt until finely chopped. Scrape down the sides, and then, with the motor running, slowly pour in ¼ cup olive oil and mix until well blended (it will look like store-bought pesto).
Ladle a good portion of vegetables and broth into each person’s bowl, then pass the pistou — I usually add a teaspoon (it’s strong) and stir it in. Pass the grated cheese and enjoy.
Serve with a light red wine.

Notes

This recipe can easily be doubled, and the leftovers freeze well. If I think I’m going to get two meals out of this, I don’t add the elbow macaroni the first time around, because the pasta gets a bit soggy when reheated.