Corn and Zucchini Bisque with Paprika Oil
Ingredients
Instructions
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1Combine ¼ cup olive oil and the paprika in a small saucepan, bring to a slight shimmer over medium heat, whisking to combine. Once shimmering, turn off the heat and stir in the maple syrup. Let the oil sit and infuse while making the soup. The paprika will settle to the bottom, and you will be left with a beautiful, red oil.
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2Reserve ¼ cup of the raw corn kernels, set aside for now. Heat a large pot over medium heat, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Add the rest of the corn kernels, onion, and a pinch of salt. Saute until the onion is translucent and the corn is bright yellow, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and black pepper to taste, saute for 1 more minute, until fragrant. Add the wine, bring it up to a simmer and let reduce for 5 minutes. Add the reserved corn cobs (not kernels!), zucchini/summer squash, cashews, bay leaves, 6 cups of water, and more salt to taste. Increase the heat to high, cover the pot, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove and discard the corn cobs and bay leaves.
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3Transfer the contents of the pot to an upright blender, along with the basil, blend on high until smooth. You will likely need to do this in batches. Taste for salt and adjust if needed. Return the blended soup back to the pot. Serve the soup warm, garnished with the reserved raw corn kernels and basil, and drizzled with the paprika oil.
This delicate, silky bisque is all about the intersection of summer and fall. Corn and zucchini are summer epitomized, yet here we use them to help us ease into the chillier evenings and shorter days of September by making soup! The paprika oil makes for a lovely, piquant finish that balances the subtle and velvety nature of the soup. You can even adapt the technique for the paprika oil and make all kinds of other flavored oils. For example, use turmeric to make a sunny, yellow oil, or whole spices like cumin or fennel seeds, for a crunchy, toasty spiced oil. Use dried chilis or chili flakes to make a spicy oil, and so on and so forth. Hope you’re doing well and enjoying the glory of late summer!
Corn and Zucchini Bisque with Paprika Oil
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Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for sautéing
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 4 ears of corn, kernels removed, cobs reserved
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- sea salt
- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup white wine
- 1 ¼ lb/570 g (about 2-3 medium) zucchini or summer squash
- ½ cup cashews
- 3 bay leaves
- handful of basil, plus more for garnishing
Instructions
- Combine ¼ cup olive oil and the paprika in a small saucepan, bring to a slight shimmer over medium heat, whisking to combine. Once shimmering, turn off the heat and stir in the maple syrup. Let the oil sit and infuse while making the soup. The paprika will settle to the bottom, and you will be left with a beautiful, red oil.
- Reserve ¼ cup of the raw corn kernels, set aside for now. Heat a large pot over medium heat, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Add the rest of the corn kernels, onion, and a pinch of salt. Saute until the onion is translucent and the corn is bright yellow, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and black pepper to taste, saute for 1 more minute, until fragrant. Add the wine, bring it up to a simmer and let reduce for 5 minutes. Add the reserved corn cobs (not kernels!), zucchini/summer squash, cashews, bay leaves, 6 cups of water, and more salt to taste. Increase the heat to high, cover the pot, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove and discard the corn cobs and bay leaves.
- Transfer the contents of the pot to an upright blender, along with the basil, blend on high until smooth. You will likely need to do this in batches. Taste for salt and adjust if needed. Return the blended soup back to the pot. Serve the soup warm, garnished with the reserved raw corn kernels and basil, and drizzled with the paprika oil.
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