This is a delicious, comforting meal when it's cold outside or when you're feeling under the weather. Let us know if you try it!

Pistou Soup recipe for 6 to 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 diced leeks, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 2 stalks of diced celery, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 15 green beans
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 3 ripe tomatoes, peeled and seeded
  • 1 teaspoon of peppercorns
  • 4 small sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 4 small sprigs of fresh parsley
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 8 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil

Instructions

  • In a large pot, heat the olive oil and add the leeks and the garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, just until they start to turn translucent.
  • Add the celery and the carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes longer.
  • Pour the stock into the pan, heat until it boils, then reduce the heat until it's just simmering. Tie together the thyme, parsley and peppercorns with string and add it to the pan.
  • Stir in the tomato, zucchini, and beans and continue to let it simmer for about half an hour, until the vegetables are tender.
  • Remove the peppercorn, thyme and parsley 'bouquet' from the soup. Taste the soup and season with a little more salt if needed.

Optional: Mix an egg yolk, olive oil and chopped basil and add one teaspoon of the mixture to the soup bowl. Then pour the soup on top, and top it off with some grated cheese.

Bon Appétit!

soupe au pistou

Pistou soup, delicious to eat all year round. Photo© V. Mourre CC-BY SA 3.0

France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

Travelers Reviews

5.0
Ed
This is the third year in a row that we have traveled to France, as part of a two country vacation. Because of our positive experiences with Emilie's help in the past, and our desire to be relatively independent, we chose to have her craft our French trip again this year. In a word, she is incredible! We have such a high level of confidence in her …
Eileen
Thank you, Emilie! This was just the trip that we had envisioned. The B&B's that you booked for us were perfect. The excursions were fabulous. The amazingly detailed books that you prepared for us were our guides and will forever remind us of our trip. You listened to what we wanted and arranged a trip just for us. I cannot imagine how this trip …
Lawrence
Staying in B&B’s is a great way to see the country and meet the people who live there in their normal environment. And, “France Just for You” provides an excellent way to have this experience. Emilie’s knowledge and detailed planning made the trip exciting and enjoyable! We will definitely seek her out for our next trip to France.
Barbara & Gary
Emilie, You have created for us the most outstanding well planned vacation possible. We have thoroughly enjoyed following your suggestions each day-- each choice well selected specifically for us. And even when things didn't go perfectly-- like a flat tire on the rental car or a pilot's strike which resulted in the cancellation of our light, you …
Tony & Carolyn
We had the most wonderful two week trip planned by France-Just For You and it delivered more than we expected The quality of the travel package was amazing and every detail was designed to be most helpful for us. We had never stayed in B&Bs before but this trip has opened up more exciting travel options for us than we could have imagined. I would …
Robert
My wife and I completed a 3 week driving trip out of Bordeaux which was organized by France Just for You. The Bed and Breakfast accommodations were superb, the personalized guidebook comprehensive and well-organized, and the booked activities were high quality. Having the rental car booked for us was a major advantage (Don’t drive in France without …