J's Summer Squash Soup

I planned on making an Indian dish for dinner this evening when the hubby and I both felt that our stomachs were a tad in knots. I believe we probably ate something that did not agree with us, perhaps the potato salad we had at lunch. Instead of a heavy meal we opted for a lighter summer (albeit hot) soup.


I looked around the pantry and the fridge for fresh items and threw it in to make this delicious soup! It may be hot outside but this soup was quite refreshing. The only item we didn't have that I wished we had was a nice crusty bread. Next time because this is a keeper, recipe wise.


Things you will need:
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
3 cups summer squash, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
Bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1 14 ounce can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed
6 cups vegetable stock
1 cup orzo pasta (or other small pasta)
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped finely
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste, plus a pinch of salt to add to vegetables when sauteing


Things to do:
Heat oil in a large stock pot and add the vegetables, dried herbs, and bay leaf, with a pinch of salt. Cook 6-8 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.  Add the beans and cook another 2 minutes. Add the vegetable stock, bring to a boil, low to a simmer. Simmer for 30-35 minutes. About 9 minutes before the cook time end add 1 cup of orzo.  Season to taste with salt and pepper. With about 1 minute before the soup is complete add the balsamic vinegar, parsley, and lemon juice. 

Enjoy with crusty bread. I've been adding hemp seeds to most everything lately because it adds extra protein. Feel free to add some if you have them on hand. Hemp seeds contain 10 essential amino acids which makes them a complete protein. 3 tablespoons equals 11 grams of protein. I add them to everything now! Great way to get protein without inhibiting taste too much. My little one loves hemp seeds in her soy yogurt in the mornings. Big plus! Speaking of my little one, J, absolutely loved this soup. She clapped after each bite!


Cheers and happy cooking!


No playlist this time. I do love music while cooking but this time I chatted with the hubby instead.