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
Dan
I communicated directly with Emilie who is very serious about their business of providing self guided tours. She prepared a proposal that matched what I had requested. Payment arrangements were easy. We really got to visit with local people. We rarely saw a tour bus. France - Just For You arranged visits with guides (wine tasting day in St. Emilion …
Jena
Our trip was exactly as expected, planned perfectly with so many amazing tips on where and how to get around like a local. 25 days, with lots of driving and so much to see. Paris, Versailles, Normandy, Loire Valley, Sancerre, Dordogne and Bordeaux. We were warmly welcomed at all B&Bs and felt that we really got a local feel everywhere we went. All …
Teri & Family from the US
Customized Itinerary with Fantastic Service & Support for France Travel Laura and Emilie with France Just for You provided exactly the itinerary we asked for. We corresponded with them several times to develop exactly what we were interested in and it worked out beautifully. This saved us so much time! We even experienced some challenging airline …
Liz & Bruce
We definitely experienced a new way of traveling : out-of-the-way places, local markets and quaint little restaurants. We met a lot of French people and other travelers and always had a great time ! We had already gone to France twice in the past, but thanks to Emily and Guilaume we rediscovered this fabulous country in a whole new way. We are …
Wendy
I was going to plan a trip for my daughter and I and quickly got overwhelmed. We didn't want to go on those tours that have you going for morning until night. We wanted to be able to take our time and enjoy our trip. That's when I found Emiliee. We wanted to stay for 3weeks and really experience France, and Emiliee did just that. Her guide books …
Robert & Karen
Anyone planning a trip to France, whether for the first time or for the twelfth (like me), will benefit from the fabulous itinerary that Emilie can craft for you. My husband and I just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in the Medoc and the Loire Valley that Emilie planned for us: top-notch historic B&Bs with character, charming friendly hosts and sumptuous …