Vegetable Soup Recipe (2024)

By Lidey Heuck

Published Oct. 11, 2023

Vegetable Soup Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 1 hour
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(1,125)
Notes
Read community notes

This simple, one-pot soup is chock full of vegetables and can be customized as you wish. Think of this recipe as a template and feel free to swap in whatever happens to be in your fridge or freezer, adding vegetables according to their cooking times. Diced fennel, zucchini or even broccoli would be particularly nice additions. Try fresh rosemary or your favorite Italian seasoning mix in place of the oregano and thyme, or a pinch of cumin for a subtle, smoky flavor. Hearty greens, such as kale and Swiss chard, can be substituted for the spinach. Add a 15-ounce can of drained, rinsed white beans for a more filling soup. Serve as-is, or finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan, thinly sliced scallions and torn fresh basil to take things up a notch.

Learn: How to Make Soup

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Ingredients

Yield:6 to 8 servings

  • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3medium carrots, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 2 to 3large celery stalks, diced (about 1½ cups)
  • 4garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 2teaspoons fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried
  • teaspoons dried oregano
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
  • 2 to 3Yukon gold potatoes, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 1tablespoon tomato paste
  • 8cups (2 quarts) vegetable broth
  • 1(15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1cup frozen or fresh chopped green beans
  • 1cup frozen or fresh corn kernels
  • 1cup frozen or fresh green peas
  • 2cups baby spinach
  • cup chopped fresh parsley, plus more for serving
  • 1tablespoon red wine vinegar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

148 calories; 6 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 1062 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Vegetable Soup Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium. Add the onions, carrots and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, crushed red pepper, 1 teaspoon salt (or 2 teaspoons if you’re using low-sodium broth) and 1 teaspoon black pepper; cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.

  2. Add the potatoes and tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste begins to brown on the bottom of the pot, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the broth and diced tomatoes with their juices and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

  3. Step

    3

    Stir in the green beans, corn and peas, return to a simmer and cook until the green beans are tender, 3 to 5 minutes more.

  4. Step

    4

    Off the heat, add the spinach, parsley and vinegar, stirring until the spinach is wilted. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve hot, topped with more parsley. (See headnote for more serving suggestions.) Soup will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer (see Tip).

Tip

  • To freeze soup, cool to room temperature in the pot, then transfer to airtight containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or run the container under hot tap water until the soup releases in a saucepan on the stove. Simmer, partially covered, until heated, adding more water or broth if necessary.

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,125

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Richard

Good veggie soup recipe. Add some red lentils for some protein--they don't take long to cook. Pearled barley would be another good addition.The recipe doesn't list salt amounts, but the nutritional info lists over 1000 mg sodium per serving, based on 8 servings. I always cut down on salt. Why make a very healthy soup somewhat unhealthy because of its sodium levels? Those who like more saltiness can always add salt, but those who don't like it cannot remove the salt already added.

Mindy

I added cooked garbanzo beans to increase protein.

Cathy

I make this recipe and freeze it in silicone bread pans. When it's frozen I pop them out and put them in saved bread bags (back in the freezer). Way fewer containers to deal with. Fits well in the freezer.

Dan W

I'd be careful about adding 2 tsp salt in step 1- it's so early in the recipe, who knows yet how the final result will taste. One tsp is enough to get the recipe started, add more near the end if it needs more salt before serving.

mj

Delicious. Don't skip the red wine vinegar at the end - it adds a delightful brightness to the broth.

Ellyn

But surely, adding beef to a vegetable soup is not a little change, but one that makes your dish a categorically different thing than this recipe.

shirlyujest

I make almost this exact soup except I begin by browning a small piece of beef, cut into bite size pieces. I find this is tastier than purchasing the already cut up soup beef chunks. Anyhow, after browning, I remove from pot and proceed as in Step One above. Add the meat back in at the end before removing from heat. Just yummy.

Bill

A bit OT, but as of yesterday, my NYT Recipe Box shows only eight recipes, with--best I can tell--no opportunity to show more. I can search more by category or ingredient and another eight recipes show up. Since I have no idea what specific recipes I've saved, this seriously affects the utility of Box. Did I do something wrong or is this now "the way it is"?Thanks for any replies!

Fay Lee

Fantastic, easy recipe. I had tomato paste, but not canned tomatoes. So I added a jar of Bloody Mary mix (no alcohol) and my last carton of tomato soup from Costco. I did not add broth or vinegar. Very tasty and hearty soup. Will definitely make this dish again.

Cooker

Basic but delicious. Make it exactly as directed (except for making a double batch). Don't leave out the vinegar; the soup would be bland without it.

Lauren

Haven’t made this yet but will this weekend. One word of caution: I never freeze cooked potatoes in soup (or anything) because I think they get rubbery. I just add enough for current enjoyment…freeze the soup w/o potatoes and then add cooked potatoes (microwaved is fine) to the thawed soup as I reheat it.

krd

Great basic recipe to rid your fridge of leftover vegetables. For a little extra kick, mix in Trader Joe’s Italian Style soffrito (or other) with your mirepoix.

Es

Excellent, with or without any ingredients you happen to have. Just leave plenty of prep time. Good the first day and will keep on giving...

gtomsky24

I cleaned out the fridge with this recipe and it’s so good.Great flavor in the broth with the spices. Often homemade soup can be so bland, not this !

Golem

1062 mg of salt/sodium is half the daily recommended amount. Is all of it really necessary?

Lisa

I added sliced fennel with the celery, and a generous splash of Pernod for some kick. Also put beans in the blender to thicken the soup.

Lisa

Oh my goodness this was AMAZING!!! just an FYI ... I used a can of delMonte corn and the crunch was perfect!

David Christianson

I have made this soup four times and it is becoming a favourite for a vegetarian choice. I do make my own stocks which I freeze in 4 cup containers. I have played around a bit with the herb additions, but probably favour some combination of oregano and thyme.The recipe is easy to follow and adaptable to include what vegetables you have on hand. In winter, I use frozen green beans, corn and peas. I may substitute cabbage leaves for spinach to avoid imported spinach over a local supply.

B. K. Lane

Years ago I stumbled upon a secret ingredient for tomato-based soups and sauces: V-8 vegetable juice. Somehow it adds depth, complexity, and a little zing. I recommend the low-sodium version but if you use the original modify the salt you add accordingly.

Sally Marisic

Added a can of white beans and some e sautéed mushrooms. Used leeks as well as celery and greens.

m

Added 28 oz can of whole tomatoes and generous tomato paste

christine glenn

Pretty good but use less thyme, oregano, and garlic. Used kale.

Jane

Followed the recipe exactly - delicious! May add some chickpeas or lentils next time to up the protein, but this is a keeper!

Diane H.

Lovely vegetable soup. As others suggested, I added a bay leaf and parm rind, plus a can of rinsed pink beans. Cut back on the salt to 1 teaspoon and that is plenty.

Wasyl

Good idea to add some lentils, maybe chick peas? I made this soup and enjoyed it very much.

Allie

Easy, yummy, and hearty veggie soup. Added zucchini and a can of white beans as recommended, plus half a lemon to finish it off. Plus some parm!

Beth

Great, basic recipe.

Jules

I add fermented black beans to my soup, I cut back on the additional salt.

Cheri

I use V8 as my base it adds really great flavor.

Dee

Amazing! I used the Trader Joe’s low sodium vegetable stock and it turned out amazing. Pretty much used any vegetable I found in my fridge and freezer.

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Vegetable Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make your vegetable soup taste better? ›

Depending on your taste pallet, you can boost your soup in a variety of directions. Onion powder, garlic powder, garlic salt, Italian seasonings, Mexican seasonings (or any other cultures). Don't overcook your vegetables, either. They lose their flavor and turn to mush if cooked too long.

What is the secret ingredient for soup? ›

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

Celery, carrot, and onion are the base vegetables for most preparations of this kind. That's because when you gently fry them in extra virgin olive oil, they become a tasty flavor base for your soup, adding depth of flavor.

What are good spices to put in vegetable soup? ›

Once the soup comes to a boil, lower the heat and add the salt, basil, thyme, bay leaf, and black pepper (to taste). Simmer the soup, partially covered, for 30 to 40 minutes, until vegetables and barley reach desired tenderness. Remove the ginger, garlic cloves, and bay leaf.

What is the key to flavorful soup? ›

The basic principles of soup-er soups and stew-pendous stews

All soups and stews must have three major components in order to be tasty: an undercurrent liquid, aromatics, and volumizing ingredients.

How do you take the bitterness out of vegetable soup? ›

Add sweet vegetables like carrots and beets. They will sweeten the broth and deepen its color. You might also add a bit of miso (or salt) and/or a squeeze of lemon juice. Sweet, salt and acid balance bitter flavors.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What 2 ingredients are used to thicken the soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

What does red wine vinegar do for soup? ›

Vinegar, much like salt, is a flavor enhancer — it not only imparts its own taste and acidity to a soup, but in small quantities, it helps to bring out the brightness of other ingredients as well.

Why does my vegetable soup have no taste? ›

When I think of vegetable soup, I think of a thin, flat-tasting soup with no fat — aka, no flavor! Here's how we fix that in this Vegetable Soup recipe: Adding a parmesan cheese rind to the simmering soup infuses it with salty, umami flavor. This is SUCH an easy way to add tons of flavor to soup.

What thickens vegetable soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How to make my vegetable soup tastier? ›

Similar to searing meat, try roasting your vegetables before adding them to the soup. This gives them a little bit of char and concentrates their flavor, giving the soup a more complex taste. Try making an easy roasted root vegetable soup with squash, potatoes, carrots, and any other vegetables you like.

How to fix a bland vegetable soup? ›

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

What are the best vegetables to put in soup? ›

Root vegetables such as squash and potatoes add a good element of heartiness and fiber. Carrots and zucchini hold up well in broth and kale or Swiss chard add nice flavor, a splash of color and a serious dose of nutrition. Tomatoes and tomato paste give your recipe an Italian twist.

How do you increase Flavour in soup? ›

Go Bold. A punch of flavor at the end of cooking can make your soup a standout. Mix herbs like parsley, thyme, and oregano, or spices such as cumin, coriander, and cardamom, into some olive oil, and let it infuse for at least an hour or two. Pour it over soup just before serving.

How do you make can soup taste better? ›

Here are some ideas to liven up your canned soups and make them taste more like homemade:
  1. Sauté some onions and/or garlic: Low and slow is the way to go. ...
  2. Add protein: Leftover chicken or steak, some cooked diced ham or bacon or sausage (just a little — that soup is already salty).
Apr 25, 2023

Does cooking soup longer make it taste better? ›

Bring everything to a boil, reduce the heat, and let simmer for at least 30 minutes. The longer the stock cooks, the more flavorful your soup will be.

What to add to vegetable soup for flavor reddit? ›

Mushrooms, miso, tomatoes, garlic, herbs, kombu, vinegar, whatever fits the profile you're going for. One sure-fire way to boost the flavor of any soup is to compound your vegetables.

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