Creamy Zucchini & Coconut Milk Soup Recipe (Dairy-Free), Meeting Tartelette & the EVO Conference

Name: Creamy Zucchini & Coconut Milk Soup Recipe (Dairy-Free)
Yield: Serves 4 as an appetizer course.
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 red jalapeno pepper, seeds & membranes removed (if desired), and minced; 3 cups (packed) grated zucchini; 1 tbsp minced fresh mint leaves; 1/2 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste); 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (plus more to taste); 2 3/4 cups vegetable broth; 1/3 cup coconut milk

Jun 28, 2010 by Dara 44 Comments

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You know there is a lot to talk about when the title is almost as long as the blog post itself. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the food blogging workshop at the EVO Conference (Evolution of Women in Social Media) in Park City, Utah. The big draw for me was to learn from Hélène of Tartelette, whose imaginative and beautiful photos inspire food bloggers and cooks around the globe. Her co-presenters were Jane Maynard of This Week For Dinner, Helen Jane, and Stephanie Robinett of AllRecipes, who each gave us food for thought (so to speak).

Hélène walking us through her process of photographing her dishes. Also pictured are Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod (middle) and Kristen of Dine and Dish (right).

As part of the workshop, we were served an inspiring meal cooked by Chef John Murcko of Talisker on Main. He taught us the finer points of cooking with lobsters, treating us to his Lobster Bisque and Scallop & Lobster Corn Dogs (seriously good). One of his tricks for adding richness to the lobster bisque without using cream was to use coconut milk, which is what inspired this Zucchini & Coconut Milk Soup recipe.

My first attempt at making quenelles for the seafood corn dogs.

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Two days before the conference, Maria kindly set up an appetizer and dessert evening with Hélène, which was hosted by the every-gracious Cristie of The Table Runner. Hélène is sweet (though with a entertaining wicked streak), funny, and generous with her knowledge and opinions.

Pictured (left to right): Becky of Project Domestication, Barbara of Barbara Bakes, Becky of Vintage Mixer, Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod, Hélène of Tartelette, Kristie of The Table Runner, Brooke of Cheeky Kitchen, Holly of PheMOMenon, Bonnie of City Home/Country Home, and me.

The table settings were inspired and the food was fresh, innovative, and beautiful.

Now, on to the recipe. As I mentioned above, this recipe was inspired by the coconut milk added to Chef John Murcko’s soup. With zucchini plants readying to explode and fresh mint threatening to take over gardens, this soup makes good use of these seasonal ingredients. I served it hot, but it is also lovely when enjoyed chilled on a hot day.

Prepare ingredients by finely chopping 1/2 yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic, and 1/2 red jalapeno pepper. I cut the seeds and membranes out of the peppers, but you can leave them in if you prefer more heat.

Grate 2 to 3 zucchini to equal 3 cups (packed) total.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large sauce pan set over medium-low heat. Add the onion and chili pepper, and sweat (cook without browning) until the onion is soft and translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for additional 2 minutes.

Turn the heat to medium, add the grated zucchini and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves, and cook until the zucchini is starting to soften, about 4 to 5 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.

Add 2 3/4 cups vegetable broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove soup from the heat and let cool for about 10 minutes. Trust me, you do not want to skip this step. That is, unless you enjoy wiping hot soup off your ceiling after your blender lid flies off.

Process the soup in a blender, in two batches, until the soup is almost smooth, but with a little bit of texture. Return to the saucepan, stir in 1/3 cup coconut milk, reheat, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.

This soup can also be served chilled – a nice treat on a hot day.

Other zucchini soup recipes:

The Kitchn’s Zucchini Garlic Soup
FatFree Vegan Kitchen’s Creamy Zucchini & Basil Soup
Kalyn’s Kitchen’s Zucchini & Yellow Squash Soup with Rosemary & Parmesan
The Budding Cook’s Spicy Zucchini Soup