Creamy Zucchini Soup with Walnuts and Dill
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This flavor-packed zucchini soup is creamy without the cream—and it’s ready in just 30 minutes.
If you’re swimming in zucchini and tired of the usual zucchini bread and zucchini muffins, this zucchini soup is such a delicious change of pace. It’s fresh and bright from dill, lemon, and good olive oil, with toasted walnuts that add richness and a creamy texture—no dairy required. The best part? It takes just 30 minutes, and it’s just as good cold as it is warm. Whether you’re using up garden zucchini or just craving some comfort, this zucchini soup recipe hits the spot.
“Made this initially out of curiosity but it has instantly become a favorite! Wow—so good!”
What You’ll Need To Make Creamy Zucchini Soup
- Olive oil, yellow onion & garlic cloves: The flavor base of the soup; a little olive oil also gets stirred in at the end to add body and bring everything together.
- Zucchini: This versatile veggie cooks down to form a bright base and gives the soup its fresh flavor and pretty green color. (No need to peel it.)
- Chicken broth: The base of the soup. If you’d like to make the soup vegan, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. The soup’s already dairy-free, so this one swap makes it plant-based.
- Dill & lemon juice: Fresh dill gives a fresh herbal note (either fresh or dried will work), and a squeeze of lemon at the end brightens the whole bowl.
- Walnuts: Toasted to bring out their flavor and pureed into the soup, walnuts thicken things up and give the soup a creamy, texture without the need for dairy.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Sauté the aromatics. In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the chopped onions and garlic, and cook until the onions are soft and translucent.
Step 2. Simmer the zucchini. Add the sliced zucchini, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender.
Step 3. Toast the walnuts. While the soup simmers, toast the walnuts in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes, until fragrant. (Keep a close eye on them as nuts can burn quickly.)
Step 4. Purée the soup. Add the toasted walnuts and chopped dill to the pot. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until completely smooth, or work in batches using a regular blender.
Pro Tip: If you’re using a blender, be sure to crack the lid slightly or remove the center knob and cover with a kitchen towel to allow steam to escape—hot soup expands fast and can be messy (and dangerous) in a sealed blender.
Step 5. Add lemon and oil. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining olive oil, then taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Ladle into bowls, drizzle with more olive oil, and sprinkle with dill. Feel free to top it off with croutons as well. The soup will keep well for several days in the refrigerator; freeze for longer storage.
Hot or Chilled, These Summer Soups Deliver
Creamy Zucchini Soup with Walnuts and Dill
A simple zucchini soup with fresh herbs and lemon that feels both comforting and light.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, cut into quarters
- 4 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 4 cups chicken broth (such as Swanson Organic)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, or 1 tablespoon dried, plus more for serving
- ½ cup walnuts, toasted
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean-up.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-low heat in a large pot. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and translucent. Do not brown.
- Add the zucchini, chicken broth, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender.
- Meanwhile, place the walnuts on the prepared baking sheet and toast in the oven until fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. (Keep a close eye on them as nuts can burn quickly.)
- Add the dill and walnuts to the soup. Using a stick blender, purée the soup until smooth. (Alternatively, purée the soup in batches in a blender. Be careful not to fill the jar more than halfway, and leave the hole in the lid open and loosely cover with a dish towel to allow the heat to escape.)
- Add the lemon juice and the remaining tablespoon of oil to the soup, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (I usually add about ¼ teaspoon more salt). Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with more olive oil, sprinkle with dill, and serve.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours, until completely thawed. Serve cold or reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 166
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Sugar: 7g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Sodium: 629mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Hello Jenn, does the walnut flavor come through on this soup? What nut would you recommend as a substitute? Thank you!
Hi Rebecca, the flavor of walnuts is quite subtle, but if you’d like to swap in a different nut, you could give it a try with cashews or almonds. Please keep in mind I haven’t made the soup with anything other than walnuts.
I am eating it as I write… It is delicious. I put a little less lemon and I am eating it with rye bread croutons. I have never put walnuts in a soup before… I love it… thanks for the recipe!
Very, very, VERY good. As always!
Even without dill (sorry, I can’t stand it. My bad.)
Served adorned with fresh basil and garlic-infused olive oil.
Thank you, again.
ALL your recipes are wonderful.
I love this soup so much! I make a pot every week. I eat low carb and I’ve found that blended veggie soups are comforting and satisfying, and they work for any meal. I enjoy this one immensely. Thank you! 😊
i know i’m late to the party here, but i just made this and it’s delightful!
do you think a combo of toasted hazenuts and walnuts would work? someone has been sneaking my walnuts!
LOL, sure that would be fine. 😊
Delicious and easy to make. Yum
I have made this soup many times and it is delicious! Would this soup pair well with your crustless broccoli quiche? I’m having a ladies luncheon and want to make this soup. Usually I make your classic tomato soup but wanted to serve something a bit different.
Thanks so much for your advice…
Sure, I think it would pair nicely — hope the ladies enjoy!
Hi Jenn, can you thyme vs dill? If so, would it be the same amount as the dill? Thank you.
Sure, Mary, that’s fine and you can use the same amount.
Hi Jenn – I have a friend undergoing treatment who can eat zucchini but not onions. Any ideas on what I could add as a substitute to maintain the flavor? Thanks very much
Hi Jay, there’s not a perfect substitute, but you could replace it with fennel or celery. Hope that helps and you enjoy the soup!
Made this initially out of curiosity but it has instantly become a favorite! Wow-so good!
Yummmm. I don’t like dill so I just used dried basil and oregano. I only had a red onion but I think yellow as the recipe called for would have been more mellow. I’ve always loved Jenna’s asparagus soup and I’m so glad I tried this one! I added grated parm on top.