Description
Hearty vegetable soup combines robust flavors from garden-fresh ingredients. Mediterranean-inspired seasonings elevate this comforting dish, offering you a nourishing meal perfect for chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth for non-vegetarian)
- 2 cups water
- 1 (14.5 oz / 411 g) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Aromatic Initiation: Sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in olive oil over medium heat, coaxing out their deep flavors and creating a fragrant base for the soup, allowing vegetables to soften and meld for 5-7 minutes.
- Liquid Landscape: Add potatoes, zucchini, green beans, and tomatoes to the pot, then pour in vegetable broth and water. Incorporate thyme, basil, and bay leaf, seasoning with salt and pepper to build a robust flavor foundation.
- Simmering Symphony: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and cover, letting the ingredients simmer and develop complex flavors for approximately 25-30 minutes, allowing vegetables to tenderize and blend harmoniously.
- Final Flourish: Stir in sweet corn and delicate peas, cooking for an additional 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning to taste, and prepare for serving with an optional garnish of fresh parsley or sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Boost Aromatics Carefully: Sauté vegetables slowly to develop rich, layered flavors without burning, maintaining medium heat and stirring occasionally for even caramelization.
- Control Liquid Consistency: Adjust broth quantity based on desired soup thickness; add more water or broth if too dense, or simmer uncovered to reduce if too thin.
- Optimize Vegetable Texture: Add soft vegetables like zucchini and corn later to prevent overcooking and maintain their crisp, fresh quality while ensuring proper doneness.
- Enhance Dietary Adaptability: Easily transform into gluten-free, vegan, or low-sodium version by selecting appropriate broth, eliminating cheese garnish, and controlling salt levels during seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Global
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg