Closed Windows Soup

Name: Closed Windows Soup
Yield: 4 people
Ingredients: 2 onions; 2 cloves garlic; 2 celery stalks; 2 carrots; 1 zucchini (4 thick slices, rest diced); 2 cans diced tomatoes (800 g total); 1 can white beans (400 g, drained); 1 liter vegetable stock; 150 g feta cheese; 12 black olives (whole); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp oregano; 1 lemon (in wedges); salt and pepper

Based on:

TypeSoup

Serves4 people

DateAugust 22, 2026

A Greek celebration soup with zucchini windows and olive eyes, inspired by Madonna’s birthday row on Corfu.

A sunny Greek celebration soup with white beans, tomato, and feta. Served in a wide bowl, topped with four thick zucchini slices as 'windows', and olives as curious eyes along the edge. A nod to the privacy row at Madonna’s Corfu birthday.

Ingredients

2 onions
2 cloves garlic
2 celery stalks
2 carrots
1 zucchini (4 thick slices, rest diced)
2 cans diced tomatoes (800 g total)
1 can white beans (400 g, drained)
1 liter vegetable stock
150 g feta cheese
12 black olives (whole)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp oregano
1 lemon (in wedges)
salt and pepper

Method

Finely chop the onions and garlic. Dice the celery and carrots.
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Sauté onion, garlic, celery, and carrot for 5 minutes.
Slice the zucchini: four thick rounds (for the 'windows'), dice the rest. Add the diced zucchini to the pot.
Add tomatoes, white beans, stock, and oregano. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
Season with salt, pepper, and a splash of lemon juice.
Dice the feta cheese.
Ladle the soup into a wide bowl. Lay the four zucchini slices on top as 'closed windows'.
Arrange the olives around the rim as curious eyes. Sprinkle the feta in the center.
Serve with lemon wedges.

Serving notes

Serve in a wide bowl so the 'windows' are visible.
Arrange the olives neatly around the rim for best effect.
Serve with fresh bread for sharing.