Vegetable Soup Recipes

QUICK AND EASY VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, combine broth, tomato juice, water, potatoes, carrots, celery, undrained chopped tomatoes, green beans, and corn. Season with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until all vegetables are tender.

CROCK POT VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, heat the one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add the onion and cook till nearly translucent.
• Now add the garlic. Don't let the garlic brown and saute another couple of minutes.
• Add the rest of the chopped veggies, sauteing for just a minute or two; the extra tablespoon of olive oil is if you need it for the rest of the veggies. Remember--you're not cooking them-- just sauteing them for the wonderful flavor this quick step will infuse in your soup.
• Add the thyme and salt and pepper while sauteing.
• Now put the veggies in the crock pot, add the tomatoes and broth.
• Cook on low 7-9 hours (depending on your crock pot) or high 4-6 hours.
• Just before serving, gently mash some of the potato chunks against the side of the crock pot to thicken the soup, give it a stir and serve.
• SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Grilled cheese sandwiches on whole grain bread and a spinach salad.
• Quick Fixes for Variations on the Basic Veggie Soup: Now remember, don't do these to the whole pot of soup! Just the little bit you pull out to fix yourself for lunch, etc. so that you can do all the Quick Fixes.
• Quick Fix #1: Tex Mex Veggie Soup. Add some (eyeball it--how much do you want?) canned black beans (drained and rinsed), a little bit of cumin and chopped cilantro. Top with some tortilla chips and cheese, or serve with a quesadilla.
• Quick Fix #2: Tuscan Veggie Soup. Add some (eyeball it again) canned cannellini (white kidney beans) or white beans (drained and rinse), a little bit of Italian seasoning and some chopped kale. Cook till heated through and the kale is tender.
• Quick Fix #3: Minestrone Veggie Soup. Add some cooked pasta, a little dried basil and top with a fresh grating of Parmesan cheese.
• Quick Fix #4: Autumn Veggie Soup. Add some diced acorn squash or butternut squash, a handful of cooked brown rice, a sprinkling of nutmeg and some chopped parsley.

EVERYDAY VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions or leeks, celery, and Italian seasoning; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add broth, tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste, and 3 cups water to pot; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, 20 minutes.
• Add vegetables to pot, and return to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Let cool before storing.

HEARTY VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute carrots, onions, celery and green pepper until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. , Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Remove bay leaf.

OLD-FASHIONED VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

Steps:

• Cut meat into small, bite-size (1/2") pieces.
• In a large pot or dutch oven, saute meat in 1 T oil on medium-high heat until all sides are brown.
• Set aside on a plate.
• Chop celery, onion, potatoes, and carrots into bite-size pieces.
• Saute celery and onion in remaining 1 T oil until onion is golden (about 10 minutes).
• Add browned beef, water, broth, tomatoes with juices, carrots, potatoes, corn, bay leaves and garlic.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until beef is almost tender, about an hour.
• Add peas and hot sauce to soup.
• Cover and simmer until beef is tender, about 30 minutes longer.
• Serve and season with freshly ground black pepper, hot sauce, or crumbled saltines, if desired.