Name: Courgette and mint soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, sliced; 6 courgettes, halved lengthways and sliced thinly; 750ml vegetable stock; 150ml crème fraîche, plus a little extra to serve; a small bunch mint leaves, chopped; lemon zest (optional), to serve

3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion
finely chopped
3 cloves garlic
sliced
6 courgettes
halved lengthways and sliced thinly
750ml vegetable stock
150ml crème fraîche
plus a little extra to serve
a small bunch mint leaves
chopped
lemon zest (optional)
to serve

Method

step 1
Heat the olive oil in a pan over a medium heat and cook the onion with a pinch of salt for 10 minutes until softened but not coloured. Add the garlic and cook gently for a few minutes then tip in the courgettes and cook gently for 20 minutes.
step 2
Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to the boil for a few minutes. Use a stick blender to whizz the soup until completely smooth, then stir in the crème fraîche and three-quarters of the mint and whizz again. Season.
step 3
Spoon into bowls and top with more crème fraîche and mint leaves, and some lemon zest, if you like.