Ultimate Vegetable Soup (2024)

by Kaitlin

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This easy Ultimate Vegetable Soup is so nourishing, satisfying, and a great source of plant-based nutrients. Plus it is simple to customize with your own favorite additions! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

Ultimate Vegetable Soup (1)

This simple vegetable soup is so nourishing and a great source of plant-based nutrients.

I call it "ultimate" vegetable soup because any and all are welcome - the more the merrier!

You can easily customize it based on your own favorite vegetables or whatever is in season.

Note: This makes a large batch (we're soup monsters) so be sure to reduce or halve if desired!

Ultimate Vegetable Soup (2)

Customizing

This is such a flexible recipe! Here are a few ideas to make it your own:

  • Vegetables: The veggies below are simply a guideline. Use your own favorites, or whatever is available or in season. Frozen vegetables work great too! There's no need to thaw them before adding to the pot.
  • Herbs: Try this with dried herbs to taste such as dried oregano, parsley, basil, or Italian seasonings. (Or you can even stir in fresh herbs towards the end of cook time for added flavor.)
  • Beans: Add white beans, chickpeas, red kidney beans, pinto beans, etc. These are great stirred in for some plant-based protein and fiber. Plus they add some heartiness!
  • Quinoa, rice, pasta, or barley: Thicken it up with your favorite grains. Try quinoa, brown rice, pasta, barley, etc. You can cook these separately, then stir them in towards the end of cooking time to prevent them from absorbing too much broth.
  • Tomato paste: For a thicker, richer broth, add a couple tablespoons tomato paste.
  • Miso: I really enjoy adding 1-2 tablespoons of white miso to soups at the end of cooking time. This adds a rich, salty, umami flavor.

Freezing note: Vegetable soups typically freeze great! Just be sure to let it cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container. It should keep for about 2 months, but use your best judgement.

Ultimate Vegetable Soup (3)

For more inspiration, also browse all vegan soup recipes.

Ultimate Vegetable Soup (4)

Ultimate Vegetable Soup

This vibrant soup is nourishing, satisfying, and a great source of plant-based nutrients. Plus simple to customize with your own favorite additions!

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 8 large bowls

Ingredients

  • 3-4 cloves garlic
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1-2 medium carrots
  • 1 zucchini
  • 1 1/2 cups mushroom
  • 1 1/2 cups cabbage (I love purple for color)
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets
  • 1 1/2 cups cut green beans (can use frozen)
  • 1 1/2 cups peas (can use frozen)
  • 1 1/2 cups sweet corn (can use frozen)
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 15 oz. can diced tomatoes (and/or fresh)
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Prepare veggies: Mince garlic. Dice onion, carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms. Roughly chop cabbage. Cut broccoli and cauliflower into small bite-sized pieces.

  • In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, sauté onion for 5-7 minutes. (I use 3 Tbsp. broth/water for no-oil sauté method, adding more as needed.)

  • Add garlic (and any dried herbs if using) and sauté 1 minute.

  • Add broth, tomatoes with juice, and all veggies (except spinach).

  • Increase heat and bring to a light boil.

  • Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until vegetables are desired tenderness.

  • Stir in spinach during last couple minutes of cooking time. Salt to taste.

Notes

Yield: This makes a very large batch so cut if half if desired.

Herbs: Add dried herbs for more flavor (basil, oregano, parsley, etc.)

Frozen veggies: These work great as “fillers” if you want to quickly and easily add more veggies without all the prep (or if fresh produce isn’t available).

Freezing: Vegetable soup also freezes wonderfully. Be sure to let it cool completely before placing in the freezer.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Ultimate Vegetable Soup

Amount per Serving

Calories

114

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

1

g

Potassium

654

mg

19

%

Carbohydrates

24

g

8

%

Fiber

6

g

25

%

Sugar

10

g

11

%

Protein

6

g

12

%

Vitamin A

3170

IU

63

%

Vitamin C

66

mg

80

%

Calcium

73

mg

7

%

Iron

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sodium: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.

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If you are enjoying this Ultimate Vegetable Soup, also feel free to check out:

  • Black Beluga Lentil Chili
  • Vegan Broccoli Potato Soup
  • Tomato Spinach Orzo Soup
  • Lentil Vegetable Soup

Follow The Garden Grazer on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook for more updates and inspiration.

More Vegan Soup & Chili Recipes

  • Southwest Corn Chowder (Vegan!)
  • Vegan Potato Leek Soup (Easy!)
  • Kidney Bean, Spinach, and Orzo Soup (Easy!)

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. TamI lowe

    If we were to add quinoa or beans, what should the amounts be for each and do they need to be cooked first? Also, what type of mushrooms do you prefer? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Kaitlin McGinn

      Great questions. If adding quinoa, I'd start with about 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa (rinsed well). Add it with the broth, and it'll take about 15-20 minutes simmering to cook through.

      If adding beans, you can simply add canned beans of your choice. I'd start with a 15 oz. can and go from there if you want more.

      I pretty much love any & all mushrooms. White button, cremini, portobello, and shiitake are all fairly easy to find in the store, and any of them are lovely in this soup. Would love to hear what you come up with!

      Reply

  2. Deb

    I'm making this soup this weekend but wondered if the purple cabbage alter the colour of the other veggies?

    Reply

    • Kaitlin McGinn

      The purple cabbage does alter the color of the broth & other veggies a bit after cooking. Feel free to use green cabbage if you'd like!

      Reply

  3. Debbie C

    This sounds good! I will have to try it. When I make soup I like adding the zucchini at the end with the spinach, it gives it a nice slight crunch and doesn't get soggy.

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      Great tip!

      Reply

  4. Jennifer

    Made this the other day and I was surprised at how tasty it is! No offense. It just looks like it would be boring and it's not! It's delicious! I feel so good getting all those veges in too! I'm on to making some more of your recipes! Thanks

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      Hey Jennifer! Awesome to hear you enjoyed it - thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  5. Makeupv

    Hi - I'm about to try out this recipe. I'm excited to see how it turns out! The one thing I wondered about is the lack of seasoning - is the soup flavorful without (I assume yes from the great reviews!) and/or if I wanted to give it a flavor boost are there any specific spices or seasonings you would recommend? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      Hi! I find the veggies give it so much wonderful flavor, but if you're looking to play around with herbs, parsley, basil, or Italian seasoning can be added. Fresh herbs and miso are also a great addition at the end of cook time!

      Reply

    • Makeupv

      I ended up throwing in some chopped fresh parsley and it was perfect! Making this again tomorrow. So good!

      Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      Perfect! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  6. Mom2for

    Thanks for the recipe. My family loved it. I made it spicy by adding some red peppers and Tuscan seasoning.

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      Wonderful additions! Thanks for sharing your helpful feedback!

      Reply

  7. Jen Perantoni

    I made this the other night. I kept out mushrooms, carrots, corn, and peas and added yellow squash. The meat eaters aka fiancé and friends asked for the recipe! It was so good and easy to make. I will be holding on to this recipe for chilly nights.

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      That sounds great, Jen!

      Reply

  8. Kathryn Hill

    Thank you for the great recipe! Just made a big batch today!

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      Wonderful to hear you enjoyed, Kathryn!

      Reply

  9. Stephanie White

    Made this for a second time! Have to say I'm only a good cook because I know my way around following a good recipe. Without one I don't even dare enter the kitchen! However, tonight I didn't even MEASURE the veggies this time!! Crazy right?! It was just so good the first time, I knew even I couldn't get this wrong! Big thanks for the recipe and boost in confidence.

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      That's so great!

      Reply

  10. Casey Vanzant

    Could this be modified for the crock pot?

    Reply

    • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

      Hi Casey! I've never tried that, but I bet it would work beautifully. Maybe cook everything on low for about 4-5 hours? Would love to hear if you give it a try!

      Reply

Ultimate Vegetable Soup (2024)

FAQs

What does vegetable soup do to your body? ›

Conclusion. Call it vegetable soup or stew, these flavourful broths loaded with a wealth of healthful nutrients, are extremely beneficial for overall health and wellness. Not only does it aid in weight loss and eases digestion but also prevents gastric anomalies, strengthens bones and promotes heart functioning.

What is the secret ingredient for soup? ›

Move aside, chicken noodle and tomato bisque! We're trying out some new soups with one ingredient in common: vinegar. Flavorful and unique, these recipes will have you including vinegar in soup for years to come.

Is vegetable soup solution? ›

Vegetable soup is a suspension. But as you are not referring to vegetables and other stuff in the question, the soup is a colloid. The powder, chemicals and liquid constitute a colloidal solution. Hope this information will clear your doubts regarding the topic.

What is the blessing on vegetable soup? ›

English. Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who creates numerous living things with their deficiencies; for all that You have created with which to maintain the life of every being. Blessed is He, the life of the worlds.

What happens if you eat soup every day? ›

Eating soup may help increase satiety and help you stay full, which might allow you to eat less overall. 1 While this may lead to weight loss, there is no evidence that a soup-only diet could effectively support long-term weight management.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

A squeeze of citrus, a dollop of yogurt or a drizzle of cream, a dusting of cheese or a good chile powder, a sprinkling of some herbs or croutons — all can take a perfectly fine soup into the realm of the delectable. Even a spiral of good olive oil to finish and some coarse sea salt can do wonders.

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 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 healthy is homemade vegetable soup? ›

Vegetable soups offer an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and flavor. Serve as a side or make them the main course – these nutrient-dense dishes are low in calories and carbs but high in satisfaction.

What is vegetable soup broth made of? ›

Most store-bought vegetable broth contains some combination of onion, celery, carrots, and salt – it's also common for tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and/or other seasonings to be present. That's all fine and dandy, but store-bought broths also have a lot of other preservatives, such as: Vegetable Oils.

What gives soup a good taste? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

What adds richness to soup? ›

If your broth tastes like it lacks savory richness, you can pack in umami flavor by putting soy sauce, miso, roasted onion, mushrooms, tomato paste, or seaweed. These ingredients provide depth to the broth, but you must ensure that your chosen ingredients match the recipe.

How to make vegetable soup without losing nutrients? ›

To make sure that you don't drain out the nutrients from the soup, she suggests that one should use the same water to prepare the soup in which the vegetables were boiled. This, she says, will ensure that you are not wasting anything while making the soup, especially the essential nutrients and minerals.

Is eating vegetable soup every day healthy? ›

Vegetable soup can help fill you up without a lot of calories and meet your recommended vegetable intake of 2 to 3 cups per day, but some versions of this soup are also loaded with sodium, which can have an adverse effect on your blood pressure, so choose wisely.

Will I lose weight if I eat vegetable soup everyday? ›

Regularly consuming soup has been linked to a lower body weight. However, there's insufficient research on the benefits of soup diets for weight loss. Still, due to the low calorie nature of these eating plans, you'll likely lose some weight in the short term.

Can I drink vegetable soup everyday? ›

There is no harm in eating soup every day as long as it is part of a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods. However, it is important to make sure that the soup you are eating is not high in salt, fat, or added sugars. It is also important to pay attention to portion sizes.

What does soup do to your stomach? ›

Scientists say texture is key. Although liquids empty from the stomach faster than solids, thicker liquids like soup are different. They actually tend to cause the stomach to expand a bit more, and remain in the stomach longer, so you feel more full, for a longer length of time.

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