Creamy Zucchini and Gorgonzola Soup

*Post by Angela.

When I was growing up, my family didn't eat out that often, partially due to the fact that my mom mostly cooked, but also because there weren't a whole heck of a lot of options in my hometown of Myrtle Creek, or the nearby "big city" of Roseburg (respective populations: 3,437 and 20,353). BUT Roseburg did have all the big fast food chains, including Carl's Jr., my particular favorite. It was at Carl's Jr. that I was introduced to the joys of zucchini (in that case, of the fried variety), and I've loved the vegetable ever since. And one of my favorite ways to use it (other than in a carpaccio) is in this rich and creamy soup from The Soup Bible. 

List of ingredients for the soup:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 6 cups trimmed and sliced zucchini (about 3 medium-sized zucchini, not 6 like I estimated.  Oh, well, extra zucchini goodness for me!)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
• 5 oz gorgonzola, crumbled (rind removed)
• 1 1/4 cups half and half
• salt and lots and lots of freshly ground black pepper

First, as with so many recipes I use, I heated the oil and the butter together in a large pot over medium heat, then added the onion and cooked until soft, about 5-7 minutes.

Next, I added the zucchini and oregano, threw in about 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp pepper and cooked about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

I poured in the vegetable stock, brought it all up to a boil, then lowered the heat to simmer for about 30 minutes, with the lid halfway on.

Just before I took the pot off the heat, I added the gorgonzola crumbles and stirred the soup until the cheese had melted.

I removed the pot from the heat, blended the soup smooth with my immersion blender, placed the pot back on low heat and poured in the half and half.

I heated the soup just a minute or two more, then served myself up a bowl of creamy zucchini goodness. I love the subtleness of the gorgonzola here (my love of blue cheeses in soup is well-documented), and it pairs perfectly with the flavor of the zucchini. And with my extra zucchini, maybe I'll try to remake my old Carl's Jr. favorite!