Creamy Vegetable Soup (Printer-friendly)
Velvety vegetable medley simmered in herb broth, finished with cream or coconut milk for a cozy bowl.
# What you'll need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
07 - 1 zucchini, diced
08 - 1 cup green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
09 - 1 cup frozen or fresh peas
→ Broth & Seasonings
10 - 4 cups vegetable broth (gluten-free if needed)
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ To Finish
15 - 1/2 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free option)
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
# Method:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Incorporate sliced carrots, celery, and diced potato into the pot. Stir occasionally and cook for 5 minutes to develop flavor.
03 - Add diced zucchini, green beans, and peas. Cook for 2 minutes to begin softening.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth. Stir in dried thyme, dried parsley, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Increase heat and bring to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes or until vegetables are fork-tender.
06 - Remove the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup directly in the pot until smooth, or leave a few chunks for texture as desired.
07 - Stir in heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free). Gently heat through for 2 to 3 minutes and adjust seasoning if necessary.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Nobody has to know how easy it is to make homemade soup taste this rich and creamy.
- Choosing your favorite vegetables means it never gets boring—plus, you can sneak in whatever is lurking in your produce drawer.
02 -
- Blending the soup while it’s too hot or too full can cause splatters—let it cool just a touch and work in batches.
- Adding cream before removing from heat keeps it from curdling, something I once learned the messy way.
03 -
- Thoroughly cook your base vegetables (onion, carrot, celery) for maximum depth of flavor before adding broth.
- A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg stirred in right at the end is a chef’s secret for an extra cozy aroma.