🥕🥣 Homemade Vegetable Soup

A comforting bowl of homemade vegetable soup packed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and a flavorful broth. This classic soup is nourishing, budget-friendly, and easy to customize with whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6–8

---

🛒 Ingredients

Vegetables

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 cup green beans, cut into pieces
• 1½ cups potatoes, diced
• 1 cup corn kernels (optional)
• 1 cup peas (optional)
• 1 can (14 oz/400 g) diced tomatoes

Broth & Seasonings

• 8 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for brightness)

---

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Sauté the Base

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion, carrots, and celery.
3. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
4. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

2. Build the Soup

1. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add diced tomatoes, broth, potatoes, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Bring to a boil.

3. Simmer

1. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
2. Add zucchini, green beans, corn, and peas.
3. Continue cooking for 10–15 minutes until all vegetables are tender.

4. Finish & Serve

1. Remove bay leaves.
2. Stir in fresh parsley and lemon juice.
3. Taste and adjust seasoning.
4. Serve hot with crusty bread or your favorite side.

---

🍽️ Optional Add-Ins

Add More Protein:

• Shredded chicken
• Ground beef
• Turkey meatballs
• Beans or lentils

Make It Heartier:

• Pasta shells
• Barley
• Rice
• Quinoa

Low-Carb Version:

• Replace potatoes with cauliflower
• Skip corn and peas
• Add spinach, mushrooms, or extra zucchini

---

🥣 Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Calories: 180
• Protein: 5 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fat: 6 g
• Fiber: 7 g

(Nutrition varies based on vegetables and add-ins.)

---

💡 Tips

✅ Chop vegetables into similar sizes so they cook evenly.
✅ Soup tastes even better the next day after the flavors develop.
✅ Freeze cooled soup in portions for up to 3 months.
✅ Add fresh herbs or a sprinkle of Parmesan just before serving for extra flavor. 🥣