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My hubby said this vegetarian zucchini soup was “exciting,” and that surprised me.

Considering how bland zucchini is, I must have done something right combining my summer squash with cauliflower, fennel and curry powder.

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It might also have something to do with the vibrant fresh herbs—like basil, parsley, dill, and/or cilantro—that I mixed in after the vegetables were fully cooked, and well … the toppings.

I served his vegetable soup with parmesan cheese on top.

That’ll do it. Parmesan is exciting indeed.

For me, parmesan with zucchini brings back childhood memories from my grandmother’s sweet zucchini. It’s just the perfect pairing.

You don’t need the parmesan of course, and this soup can easily be vegan. Other topping suggestions include crunchy roasted almonds or pumpkin seeds.

Toppings on soups not look gourmet, they can easily send the flavors over the top. A double win in my books.

How to make

Making this zucchini soup recipe is easy, and takes less than 30 minutes.

Start with a large saucepan on medium heat. Add your ghee or butter (for vegan, use an alternative), then when the fat is nice and hot, sizzle in the curry powder and black pepper.

Next, add the chopped vegetables and the water or stock. Zucchini, cauliflower and fennel bulb all cook in a similar amount of time. I give it 20 minutes of simmering to soften.

Then blend with an immersion blender or blender. I go for a partial blend, so that you get chunks of vegetable in your bowl to savor.

If you prefer a creamy zucchini soup, feel free to puree until smooth.

The final step is to stir in your choice of fresh herbs and fresh lemon juice, and adjust your seasoning to taste.

Toppings

PARMESAN CHEESE: A strong, salty, and highly fermented cheese rich in umami savory flavor. Since the zucchini, cauliflower and fennel bulb are relatively bland in flavor, the addition of parmesan cheese really picks up the overall taste.

ROASTED ALMONDS: Add extra protein, fiber, healthy fats, and crunch to your bowl with roasted almonds. Roasting reduces almonds’ astringency and brings in a pleasant bitter undertone to the otherwise sweet treats.

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS: Green in color, but blood red when blended, pumpkin seeds add extra protein, fiber, crunch, and antioxidants to your bowl. Being bitter and alkalizing, pumpkin seeds are balancing in moderation, even if you are watching your weight.

Zucchini health benefits

I feel that zucchini is underrated, especially considering its gut health benefits.

When well cooked, zucchini is among one of the easiest-to-digest vegetables you can eat, meaning it is safe for even the most sensitive of tummies.

It is also low in calories, making it great for weight loss.

Zucchini contains a good amount of soluble fiber, which is smooth and soothing in nature.

According to Ayurvedic guru Vaidya Mishra, zucchini and other summer squashes are balancing for conditions related to heat and inflammation.

This is due to the soluble fiber in summer squashes binding to toxins in your digestive tract and aiding in their elimination.

Cauliflower health benefits

Despite cauliflower’s popularity as a high-fiber, low-carb vegetable, few people realize that is also difficult to digest and easily causes unwanted gas and bloating.

This wisdom comes from the ancient system of healthcare from India that I practice known as Ayurveda.

The reason for this is due to the combination of light and dry qualities together, and the absence of chemicals that would otherwise support metabolism.

As long as you know about cauliflower’s challenges, the solution is to add digestive support in the form of spices.

This zucchini soup uses curry powder, black pepper, fresh herbs, and lemon juice to aid in digestion.

You may also like Turmeric Cauliflower Slabs for your next favorite cauliflower-only vegetable side.

Fennel bulb health benefits

Fennel bulb (sometimes called anise) is always a wonderful addition to vegetable soups. It adds light, cooling, soothing, and fragrant qualities.

Fennel tastes a little bit like licorice, and it is naturally sweet. Its tastes are a combination of pungent, bitter, and sweet, which means it is beautifully complex.

The more flavor variation in a dish, the more pleasing it will be overall. So adding fennel bulb adds a lot of flavor.

It’s going to be pleasing for both mind and body.

If you don’t have fennel bulb, try substituting with celery root (celeriac), parsnip or rutabaga. 

Turn this into a meal

Overall, this soup is satisfying, yet light. The addition of toppings like parmesan cheese, almonds, or pumpkin seeds will add satiation for a person with more hunger.

This soup pairs wonderfully with a green salad. For extra protein, top your salad with canned beans or cooked lentils, such as kidney, cannelloni, beluga French lentils, etc.