Katharine Hepburn’s Favorite Zucchini Soup Recipe
Katharine Hepburn’s favorite zucchini soup is a simple recipe made with zucchini, shallots, butter, curry powder and chicken broth. I first learned about it from a television colleague who received the handwritten recipe directly from Hepburn herself, and it’s been one of my favorite dinner party soups ever since.
Here’s the full story: More than a decade ago, a coworker of mine told me the story of a recipe he had framed, hanging in his home. One that he and his wife made and enjoyed often, because it had been scrawled on a slip of paper in front of him and then handed directly to him… by Katharine Hepburn. He met her while working in television. They had been having a conversation about food, and Katharine exclaimed that he and his wife just HAD to try this soup…
If you’re not familiar, Katharine Hepburn is known as one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses and an American icon. Known for her quick wit, independent spirit and timeless style, she starred in classics like The Philadelphia Story, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and On Golden Pond. Over a career that spanned more than 60 years, she won a record four Academy Awards for Best Actress. It’s a record that still stands today. Beyond the screen, she was known for her love of simple cooking and entertaining at home, long before the internet was the resource it is today for information sharing.
During his career, he had the opportunity to meet Katharine Hepburn, they chatted and she enthusiastically scribbled her favorite zucchini soup recipe and insisted he make it for his wife. He framed that handwritten recipe and keeps it on display in their home.
He was kind enough to share the recipe with me. He actually brought it to work to show me, and I’ve been making it ever since.
Butter, shallots, zucchini, a hint of curry and chicken broth come together to create a silky soup that’s elegant and comforting. I love serving it warm for dinner parties. It’s equally delicious chilled on a hot South Florida afternoon.
Katharine Hepburn’s Zucchini Soup
Serves: 6–8
Ingredients
¼ pound butter
5 tablespoons minced shallots
6 small zucchini, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1½ teaspoons curry powder
4 cans College Inn chicken broth
Instructions
In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the shallots and zucchini and sauté for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables have softened.
Stir in the salt, curry powder and chicken broth.
Working in batches if necessary, carefully transfer the soup to a blender and blend until completely smooth. (Careful! Some blenders aren’t meant to blend hot soup.)
How should you serve this soup?
Serve warm, or refrigerate until well chilled before serving.
How It Found My Table
Recipe shared with me by a television colleague who received this handwritten recipe directly from Katharine Hepburn. Reprinted here with gratitude and preserved because great recipes and the stories behind them deserve to be shared.
