Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (2024)

By Mary | 4 Comments

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Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (1)

TWO DAYS TWO DAYS TWO DAYS! Wowza. You're just going to have to put up with my constantly counting down to our move to Asia, because it's TWO DAYS AWAY. I'll beat this topic until it's truly dead, don't you worry! The house is looking pretty darn good — mostly packed, excluding the kitchen. The plan is to finish the entire house today, do the kitchen after dinner tonight, and tackle the garage tomorrow morning before we get the moving truck. Fingers crossed that schedule works! The best part about this move, so far, has been that by selling so much of our furniture (and taking a remarkably strong approach to getting rid of things that no longer serve us) the amount of stuff we actually have to pack/move is diminishing! We probably have half the volume of things to move compared to when we moved last July! Hurray! That said, I'm pretty sure my brain will explode when I stop ignoring the garage.

Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (2)

One thing that's keeping me super excited to finish up packing and get on that plane: BUSINESS CLASS. I've never in my life bought a ticket for anything fancier than coach, and have only ever been upgraded for short/inconsequential flights. This time, since we used miles to book our tickets, we went for business class and I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED! I am absolutely terrible at sleeping in an upright position. Like, it just never, ever, ever, ever, EVER happens. Our seats to Vietnam recline TOTALLY FLAT, have electrical sockets for our computers/gadgets, and come with a ridiculous number of other perks. You guys might be used to this (maybe? I have no gauge for this), but I'm pretty psyched. This coming from the girl who really loves staying in hotels, no matter what/where/when/why. There's just something exciting about luxuries away from home! Aah the little things. I'm sure I'll be documenting my fully-reclined (hopefully sleeping) experience on instagram. While we're talking about instagram, it's probably going to be the best way to see behind-the-scenes and day-to-day stuff while we're gone… so you should check it out.

Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (3)

In our preparation for leaving I've been trying to use up as much food as possible. I really thought I would have planned it out better, and that we'd be down to a few cans of beans by now; however, we're rolling in food. It makes me feel really guilty, which I can't quite figure out (we're not going to let any of it go to waste). I'm inviting friends to come over tomorrow, once we've packed up the kitchen and therefore are done cooking, to raid our food and take it all away. If your'e in the Bozeman area and want some goodies (coconut flour! ten other kinds of flour! canned tomatoes! homemade raspberry jam! beans! rice! quinoa!), lemme know. I want this stuff to go to a good home and get lots of love!

Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (4)

This soup was a fortunate way to use up some lingering pesto and a few extra croutons (from this love-of-my-life soup!). I'm pretty sure there is no soup recipe more simple than this: sauté some onions, add potatoes and broth, cook until soft, add pesto, and blend. Spice accordingly (if needed!). Really, it's that easy. Perhaps this should be named "the soup for people who can't cook soup." I really don't think this can be botched. Please let me know if you do botch it, so my imagination can do some stretching. Really though, you can make this soup. AND! If your'e having cold, snowy/rainy, weird/typical spring weather (like we are), you might be really itching for some hot soup. Hot potato soup WITH pesto (which basically spells summer). It's like the perfect spring soup!

Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (5)

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Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (6)

Pesto Potato Soup

  • Author: by Mary
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
Print Recipe
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 large Russet potatoes, cubed to 1"
  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 quart vegetable stock
  • ½ cup basil pesto
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • extra basil, for garnish
  • croutons, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat, then add the onion. Cook for three minutes, or until softened.
  2. Add the potatoes and the crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for two minutes before adding the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  3. Stir in the pesto, cook for another three minutes, then use an immersion blender to blend until completely smooth. Add more pesto as needed, and season with salt and pepper as needed.*
  4. Top with croutons and fresh basil.

Notes

As most prepared pesto is quite salty, you'll likely not need to add any more salt. Definitely taste the soup before adding salt.

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Comments

  1. Matt Robinson says

    Good luck with your move and I look forward to seeing you post again soon! Naomi is Vietnamese and we want to go there in the next couple of years, so you'll have to let us know how it is. Neither of us have ever been there.

    Reply

    • Mary says

      Thanks, Matt! I thought I knew Naomi is Vietnamese! You two will have to go visit with the boys! I'll definitely be documenting our trip, so hopefully you'll fine something useful for whenever you do go. I'm sure I'll find some fabulous food 🙂

      Reply

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Pesto Potato Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a good thickener for potato soup? ›

Tip: Cornstarch will thicken your soup more than flour, but both are a good option if you need to thicken a very thin soup. Pour in 1 cup (60 g) of instant potato flakes for a quick fix. This will add extra potato flavor to your soup, so you don't have to worry about changing the taste.

Does sour cream make potato soup thicker? ›

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

What makes potato soup gummy? ›

It is important that the potatoes not be too finely chopped before cooking. If they are, too much starch will be released into the broth and a gummy texture will result. An unpleasant consistency can also result from the pureeing of the cooked soup.

Should I soak potatoes before putting them in soup? ›

Should I soak my potatoes before making soup? You don't have to soak them, but I do recommend doing so in cold water at least until you've finished cubing all the potatoes. This will keep them from turning brown and ugly.

Why does my potato soup taste bland? ›

Not Adding Acid. If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

Does cream cheese thicken up potato soup? ›

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in potato soup? ›

To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken. You can use whole milk or opt for skim milk to help slash the calories and fat content of your recipe.

Can you use instant potatoes to thicken potato soup? ›

Honestly, if you just stir in a little instant mash, like Smash, your soup will thicken up in no time at all. Now, you may end up needing more than a spoonful, but it's best to add a little at a time, because remember, you can always add more of it, but you can't take it away.

Why aren't my potatoes getting soft in my potato soup? ›

If your potato soup is still crunchy after cooking for 6 to 7 hours on high in the crockpot, it's likely that the potatoes were not cooked long enough or the crockpot may not have reached a high enough temperature.

What potato holds up best in soup? ›

Potatoes that are low-starch and high-moisture hold together better. Yukon Gold potatoes are on the medium-starch side and will hold their shape in soups. Red potatoes fall into the low-starch category, as do smaller, newer potatoes. Fingerling potatoes will do well in soups, as will long white potatoes.

Why is my potato soup foaming? ›

The purple foam that you're seeing while making potato soup with Russet potatoes, barley, onions, and water is likely due to a chemical reaction between the potatoes and the water. While it's not common for the foam to turn purple, it could be related to the type of potatoes you're using or some other factors.

How do I spice up bland potato soup? ›

Add milk, potatoes, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, allspice, celery seed, thyme, seasoning salt, dry white wine, cayenne pepper and chicken granules. Allow to simmer and thicken, stirring frequently, until the potatoes are cooked through, approximately 25 minutes.

Should I peel potatoes for potato soup? ›

If you don't have Yukon gold potatoes, Russet or red potatoes will work. Can I leave the peel on for potato soup? Yes! You don't need to peel the potatoes for this potato soup recipe.

Should you leave skin on potatoes for soup? ›

Leave the peels on to add a rustic texture to soups or chowders. Thick soup, creamy chowders, and chunky stews typically have a heartier texture if you leave the peels on the potatoes. To make the dishes easier to eat, keep the potatoes about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in size or smaller.

What is the best thickening agent for soup? ›

Soup Thickening Method: Cornstarch Slurry

About this method: One of the most common ways to thicken sauces and soups is with a starch-based slurry, and cornstarch is a popular choice. Cornstarch is flavorless, easy to mix up, and versatile, which makes it a go-to pantry ingredient.

Can I use cornstarch instead of flour to thicken potato soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

Is cornstarch or flour better for thickening soup? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

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