Wash the zucchini under running water, trim both ends. If the skin is thick, peel it thinly in strips every few centimeters. Cut the zucchini into slices about 1 cm thick, then dice each slice into cubes about 1 cm on each side. Peel, wash, and dice the potatoes into similar-sized cubes as the zucchini (about 1 cm). Peel the onion, cut it in half, and chop it finely. Peel the garlic cloves and chop them finely or press them through a garlic press.
Description
Creamy zucchini soup with feta cheese is a light, velvety soup with a delicate, slightly tangy finish thanks to the cheese and lemon. The recipe combines seasonal Polish zucchini with potato for a smooth consistency and feta, which adds a salty-creamy depth. It’s the perfect dish for an autumn dinner and a Halloween party — served with roasted pumpkin seeds, olives shaped as "eyes," and a drizzle of pumpkin oil, it takes on a dark, decorative character. The soup is quick, nutritious, and pairs well with dark bread or garlic croutons; visually, it can be served in bowls decorated with a "cobweb" of sour cream and crumbled feta.
Ingredients Used
Ingredients (16)
- Zucchini 3.2 pcs (~800 g)
- Onion 1 pcs (~150 g)
- Garlic 3 clove (~15 g)
- Potatoes 2 pcs (~300 g)
- Rapeseed oil 30 g
- Butter 20 g
- Vegetable broth 1000 ml
- 18% cream 100 ml
- Feta cheese 150 g
- Lemon juice 15 ml
- 🌿 Spices
- Salt 0.2 pinch (~5 g)
- Black pepper 4 pinch (~2 g)
- Nutmeg 2 pinch (~1 g)
- ✨ Optional
- Roasted pumpkin seeds 30 g
- Olive 40 g
- Pumpkin seed oil 10 g
💡 Click an ingredient to mark it as used
Preparation steps
Preparing the vegetables
Sautéing
Place a wide pot with a capacity of about 3 l over medium heat. Pour in the rapeseed oil and add the butter. When the butter melts and starts to sizzle slightly, add the chopped onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the onion becomes translucent and soft, being careful not to let it brown too much. Add the garlic and sauté for another 30-45 seconds, until you can smell the aroma, taking care not to burn it.
Adding vegetables
Add the chopped zucchini and potato to the pot. Sauté everything together for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are slightly softened and have a lightly glossy surface. Thanks to the short cooking time, some of the zucchini will retain its fresh color, and the flavor will be more complex.
Cooking
Pour the vegetable broth into the pot so that the vegetables are covered (about 1 liter should be enough). Turn up the heat and bring to a boil, then reduce to a low heat and cook for 15-20 minutes. Check the softness of the potato and zucchini with a fork - they should be soft, with no resistance, then the soup is ready to be blended.
Mixing
Turn off the heat. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup directly in the pot until smooth, moving the blender slowly from the bottom to the top, until there are no lumps and the soup is silky smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, pour in batches into a standing blender and blend in portions, being careful with the hot liquid (do not fill the blender to the top).
Finishing
Add 18% cream and about half of the crumbled feta cheese to the blended soup (set aside the rest for decoration). Mix with a fork or whisk to combine the ingredients evenly. Heat on very low heat for 2-3 minutes — it should only be slightly warmed, do not bring to a boil after adding the cream.
Seasoning
Season the soup with salt, black pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg. Add lemon juice — start with half (about 15 ml) and taste to adjust the balance of acidity and saltiness with the feta. Taste and adjust the seasonings, keeping in mind that feta is salty — it's better to season gradually.
Roasting pumpkin seeds
In a small dry skillet, toast the pumpkin seeds over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, shaking the skillet every few seconds, until they start to pop slightly and smell nutty. Set aside to cool.
Decoration and serving
Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with the remaining crumbled feta and toasted pumpkin seeds. For a Halloween effect, arrange olive slices in pairs as "eyes" or make little ghosts out of olives. Drizzle a small amount of pumpkin oil (a few drops) in the center of each bowl for a nutty aroma. Additionally, you can create a "spider web" with sour cream: pour a spoonful of cream on the surface and gently drag a toothpick across it to create a pattern.
Serving
Serve the soup immediately, preferably in shallow soup plates or bowls. Dark bread, garlic croutons, or a slice of rye bread go well with the soup. At a Halloween party, set out small bowls with toppings (extra feta, seeds, olives) so guests can season it to their liking.
Fun Fact
Feta comes from Greek cuisine, but its salty character pairs wonderfully with delicate vegetables like zucchini. In Poland, feta is often used to enhance soups and salads — its creamy-salty note is a great contrast to mild autumn vegetables.
Best for
Tips
Serve with warm slices of bread or garlic croutons. For a bolder flavor, add a few drops of pumpkin oil and freshly ground pepper on the plate. For Halloween, prepare 'eyes' from olives or ghosts cut out of bread.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When reheating, heat on low, stirring, and do not let it boil (to prevent the cream from curdling). Pumpkin seeds and olives are best stored separately and added just before serving to maintain their crunchiness.
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