River Cottage Summer Garden Soup

4 from 1 ratings

This light, summer soup is the perfect way to make use of fresh vegetables from your garden, a local farmers' market, or the greengrocer. Click Here to Read About River Cottage Veg.

Servings

servings

Ingredients

2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed, fronds chopped and reserved
2 celery stalks
1 small bunch of green onions, trimmed
1 pound small zucchini
1 bunch of ruby or rainbow swiss chard
2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon canola or olive oil
4 cup vegetable stock
sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
3-5 ounce fresh shelled peas
3-5 ounce fresh shelled fava beans, blanched and peeled if large
2 small lettuces, such as little gem, shredded
2 tablespoon finely chopped mixed herbs, such as mint, lemon balm, parsley, basil, fennel fronds, and/or chives

Directions

Chop the fennel, celery, green onions, and zucchini into small dice, keeping them separate. Tear the leaves from the chard stalks and shred them. Cut the stalks into small pieces.
Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the butter and oil. Add the fennel, celery, green onions, and chard stalks and cook gently for about 10 minutes, until soft but not colored. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
Make sure the broth is simmering well and add the zucchini. Once returned to a simmer, cook for 1 minute, then add the peas and fava beans. Simmer for another 2 minutes. Check that the peas and beans are just tender, then add the lettuce and the shredded chard leaves. Simmer for another minute.
Add the chopped herbs along with any feathery fennel fronds and,  if you have them, the pea shoots, then immediately remove from the heat. Check the seasoning, then ladle into warmed bowls and serve.