My friend Phyllis from Mississippi makes this vibrant and creamy squash soup when she comes to visit us in the summer. It’s such a quick and easy way to make use of fast-growing summer squash that it’s bound to become one of your summer staples, too.

　　

Ingredients

makes about 3 quarts / serves 8 to 10

　　4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

　　2 tablespoons olive oil

　　1 onion, diced

　　3 celery stalks, chopped

　　2 garlic cloves, smashed and minced

　　4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

　　6 medium to large summer squash (about 3 pounds), trimmed and sliced

　　2 teaspoons sea salt, plus more to taste

　　1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper, plus more to taste

　　1 cup half-and-half

　　8 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish

　　2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

　　

Step 1

Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook and stir for 1 minute more.

　　

Step 2

Add the broth, squash, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a low boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the half-and-half, basil, and parsley.

　　

Step 3

Using an immersion blender, standing blender, or food processor, puree the soup until smooth. (If using a blender or food processor, allow the soup to cool slightly before blending in batches.) Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if desired. Serve hot or cold, garnished with basil.

　　

On the Side

Step 4

For a filling and summery supper, try serving this soup with Fried Green Tomato BLT (page 79) or Grilled Peach Salad with Shaved Country Ham and Summer Herbs (page 273) and Watercress Angel Biscuits (page 54) or slices of crusty bread.

　　Reprinted with permission from Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen: Soulful, Traditional, Seasonal by Sara Foster. Copyright © 2011 by Sara Foster. Published by Random House. All Rights Reserved.Sara Foster is the owner of Foster's Market, the acclaimed gourmet take-out store/cafés in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the author of several cookbooks including The Foster's Market Cookbook, winner of the Best Cookbook Award from the Southeast Booksellers Association. She has appeared numerous times on Martha Stewart Living Television and NBC's Today show. She has also been featured in magazines such as More, House Beautiful, and Southern Living, and is featured regularly in Bon Appétit.