Summer soups are a lovely way to enjoy the season’s freshest flavors, and this Hatch Green Chile Zucchini Soup is no exception. Combining two of summer’s most vibrant vegetables, this dish is both a delicious and nutritious option that can be served hot or cold, making it versatile for any occasion.
Whether you’re trying to make the most of a bumper crop of Hatch chiles or zucchini (and goodness knows, there can be bushels at the end of summer, this soup is a quick and easy way to transform summer produce into a satisfying meal.
With the added richness of potatoes, onions, and garlic, all sautéed with a hint of cumin before simmering in broth and puréeing to a silky texture, it’s a low-calorie side dish or light lunch that will leave you feeling nourished. Plus, with 6 grams of protein per serving, it’s as filling as it is flavorful. A finishing touch of lime, feta, and cilantro adds a tangy brightness that elevates every spoonful.
HATCH GREEN CHILE ZUCCHINI SOUP TIPS
Hatch Green Chiles: August through September is prime time for these beloved green chiles that hail from New Mexico (but typically available across the country at the end of summer). If you fresh roast your peppers, stick over a flamer, on the grill or in a broiler until the skins blister up black. Remove, let cool in a paper bag for 5 minutes and then in a bowl of cool water, slip off the skins, remove the stem and rise out the seeds before chopping. If Hatch aren’t available to you, and you still want to use a fresh chile – Poblano will make a good substitute. OR, for convenience, there are a number of prepped frozen Hatch green chile and canned/jarred hatch peppers available.
Puréeing: The silky, smooth texture in this hatch green chili soup with zucchini comes from puréeing the sautéed veggies that have been simmered in sauce. It’s very convenient to puree soup right in the pot with an Immersion Blender. However, you can use a traditional stand blender or food process, but DO NOT add hot soup to the blender – the hot liquids will expand and explode all over the kitchen, making a mess and potentially creating a burn hazard. Instead, 1) let soup cool to a warm or room-temp status, 2) ONLY fill blender pitcher half way, 3) add lid slightly askew to let any warmth out (drape dish towel over); and 4) start blending slowly in “pulses” to ensure that it will react fid.
Toppings: This soup is amazing as-is, but various toppings like a squirt of lime or lemon juice, crumbled feta or queso fresco, fresh herbs like cilantro, or even a little sour cream, crema or drizzle of flavored olive oil.
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
‘Tisthe season for zucchini and Hatch green chile – use up your bumper crop in thisdelicious soup that can be served hot or cold. Makes 6 servings, each with 134cal, 4g fat, 11g net carb and 6g protein.
- 3 mild Hatch green chilis – roasted peeled and chopped (or 1 cup chopped canned or frozen option)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2/3 cup diced onion
- 1 ½ lbs. zucchini- sliced about 4 cups
- 8- oz potato peeled and chopped
- 1 quart chicken broth
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin powder
- 1 tsp salt
- Optional garnish: Lime feta cheese, cilantro
-
Roast chiles over direct flame or in broiler, using tongs to flip every minute or until outside is blistered black. Set in covered container to “sweat’ for 5 minutes, then peel, seed and chop.
-
Add chopped vegetables (onion, zucchini, potato and hatch chiles) to soup pot and drizzle with olive oil; sauté on medium-high for 7-9 minutes until vegetables becoming tender. Add garlic and cumin; sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
-
Add chicken broth to cover vegetables and simmer over medium heat for 10 more minutes.
-
Keep soup in pot and insert an immersion blender to puree soup contents. OR, let soup cool to warm and blend in a high-wattage blender (DO NOT BLEND WHILE HOT, that’s dangerous)
-
Serve warm or cold, topped with a squirt of lime juice, sprinkle of feta cheese and chopped cilantro.
