Ingredients:
3 medium zucchini, 1½ pounds
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped sweet onion
1 medium leek, white part only, chopped
6 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt
1/3 cup snipped chives or chopped dill, for garnish
Halve each zucchini lengthwise. Using a teaspoon, scoop out the seeds. Shred the zucchini, using the coarsest side of a box grater; there should be 4 cups.
In a deep saucepan, bring the broth to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, onion and leek. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender but not falling apart, 15 minutes. Uncover, and cool the soup for 10 minutes.
With an immersion blender, whirl in the cream cheese a few cubes at a time, along with the white pepper and cayenne, stopping before the soup is completely smooth; it should still have some texture. (Or, puree the soup in a blender, dropping the cheese in through the top. This may require working in 2 batches.)
Season to taste with salt. Cool the soup to room temperature.
If serving soon, refrigerate the soup, covered, until well chilled, 6 to 24 hours. Divide it among wide, shallow bowls, and garnish with chives or dill.
To freeze, divide the soup among resealable 1-quart plastic freezer bags and refrigerate to chill. Freeze the bags of chilled soup flat on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. To defrost, thaw the soup on a plate in the refrigerator. If the soup is grainy, whirl it briefly in a blender. Pour into wide, shallow bowls, garnish with chives or dill, and serve.
