Pistou is a classic French sauce made with olive oil and basil, it’s like a pesto without pine nuts. We have made our Pistou using carrot top fronds, chervil, garlic, chilli, parmesan and lemon juice. Carrot Top Pistou adds a burst of freshness to the Carrot, Thyme and Parmesan Soup.
Carrot, Thyme and Parmesan Soup with Carrot Top Pistou Recipe
Serves 4
Ingredients:
60g unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced
1kg Dutch carrots, peeled, tops reserved, chopped
4 thyme sprigs
1.25 litre chicken or vegetable stock
1 parmesan rind
extra parmesan, grated, to serve
Carrot Top Pistou
1 cup carrot top fronds
½ cup chervil
1 garlic clove
1 tsp chilli flakes
50g parmesan, crumbled
½ lemon, juice only
2 tbsp olive oil
Method:
Melt butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add leek and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until leek is very soft. Add carrots and thyme and stir to coat, then cover with a lid and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 8 minutes until just tender.
Remove lid and add chicken stock and parmesan rind. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 25 minutes until very tender. Remove from heat and discard thyme sprigs and parmesan rind. Blend until smooth. Keep warm.
To make the pistou, place carrot tops, chervil, garlic, chilli flakes and parmesan in a mortar and pestle with ½ teaspoon of salt. Roughly pound. Stir in lemon juice and olive oil.
Divide soup among serving bowls and top with the pistou and parmesan.
