Cozy Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipe for Chilly Evenings

Crafting a hearty vegetable soup recipe brings warmth and comfort to chilly evenings.

Seasonal produce transforms simple ingredients into a nourishing meal bursting with flavor.

Carrots, celery, and fragrant herbs dance together in a rich, steaming broth.

Mediterranean and Eastern European traditions inspire this classic comfort dish.

Fresh vegetables provide a rainbow of nutrients that energize and heal.

Rich aromas will fill your kitchen, promising a delightful culinary experience.

You’ll want to savor every spoonful of this soul-warming creation.

Gather your ingredients and let’s start cooking something truly delicious.

Why Delia Smith Vegetable Soup Is Always Comforting

• Boost Nutrition: Pack your body with a rainbow of vegetables loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that support overall health and wellness.
• Master Quick Cooking: Create a hearty meal with simple steps and minimal ingredients, perfect for home cooks wanting a delicious one-pot wonder without complicated techniques.
• Customize Your Comfort: Easily swap or add different vegetables based on seasonal availability or personal preference, making this soup adaptable for any kitchen.
• Warm Family Gathering: Serve a comforting, homemade soup that brings everyone together around the table, creating memorable moments with its rich, wholesome flavors.

Ingredients For Delia Smith Vegetable Soup

• Carrots: Adds sweet flavor and bright orange color to the soup.
• Celery: Provides a subtle savory base for the vegetable soup.
• Onions: Offers a foundational aromatic flavor to the recipe.
• Garlic: Delivers a sharp and intense flavor to enhance the soup.
• Potatoes: Creates a hearty and filling texture in the soup.
• Green Beans: Introduces a tender and crisp vegetable element.
• Corn: Brings a sweet and juicy component to the soup.
• Peas: Adds a pop of color and mild sweet flavor.

• Parsley: Adds a fresh and bright herbal note to the soup.
• Bay Leaves: Provides a subtle earthy and aromatic background flavor.
• Thyme: Contributes a delicate and slightly minty herb essence.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the overall taste of the soup.
• Pepper: Adds a mild heat and depth to the flavor profile.

• Olive Oil: Helps to sauté vegetables and create a rich base.
• Broth: Forms the liquid foundation of the vegetable soup.
• Tomatoes: Provides a tangy and slightly acidic flavor element.

Step By Step For Delia Smith Vegetable Soup

Step 1: Warm Up the Cooking Vessel

Place a large pot on the stove and drizzle olive oil across the bottom, setting the heat to medium.

Step 2: Create a Flavor Foundation

• Carrots
• Celery
• Onions

Sauté these vegetables until they become slightly softened and release their aromatic essence, stirring occasionally for about 4 minutes.

Step 3: Introduce Aromatic Garlic

Sprinkle minced garlic into the vegetable mixture and let it dance in the pot for roughly 30 seconds, releasing its fragrant notes.

Step 4: Enhance with Seasoning

Sprinkle salt and pepper across the vegetables, allowing the spices to mingle and intensify the overall flavor profile.

Step 5: Build the Soup’s Character

• Vegetable broth
• Diced tomatoes
• Chopped potatoes
• Fresh parsley
• Bay leaves
• Dried thyme

Stir the ingredients thoroughly to combine.

Step 6: Bring to a Rolling Boil

Increase the heat and allow the soup to reach a vigorous boil, creating bubbling excitement in the pot.

Step 7: Add Green Beans

Toss in fresh green beans and incorporate them smoothly into the liquid.

Step 8: Simmer and Develop Flavors

Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let the soup gently bubble for 20-30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and vegetables to become tender.

Step 9: Final Vegetable Flourish

• Corn kernels
• Sweet peas

Continue simmering for an additional 5 minutes.

Step 10: Serve and Enjoy

Remove bay leaves, ladle the steaming soup into bowls, and serve immediately for maximum deliciousness.

Helpful Cooking Tips For Delia Smith Vegetable Soup

• Chop Vegetables Uniformly: Cut carrots, celery, and onions into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
• Layer Flavors Strategically: Sauté vegetables in olive oil before adding liquid to develop deeper, richer taste and enhance overall soup complexity.
• Adjust Seasoning Carefully: Taste soup during cooking and add salt and pepper gradually to prevent over-seasoning, allowing natural vegetable flavors to shine.
• Select Fresh Ingredients: Use garden-fresh or high-quality frozen vegetables for maximum nutritional value and vibrant flavor profile.
• Control Cooking Time: Simmer soup gently to preserve vegetable nutrients and prevent overcooking, which can make vegetables mushy and bland.

Try These Variations Of Delia Smith Vegetable Soup

• Protein Power Soup: Replace green beans with cubed chicken or tofu for extra protein and a heartier meal.
• Mediterranean Herb Variation: Swap thyme and parsley with oregano and basil, add a splash of red wine for deeper flavor.
• Low-Carb Garden Soup: Substitute potatoes with cauliflower florets and zucchini to reduce carbohydrate content.
• Vegan Harvest Soup: Use vegetable broth, skip any animal products, and add nutritional yeast for a rich, savory taste.

What Pairs Well With Delia Smith Vegetable Soup

• Pair with Crusty Sourdough Bread: Slice a warm, rustic sourdough bread to soak up the savory broth, adding a delightful textural contrast and hearty complement to the vegetable soup.
• Complement with Crisp Sauvignon Blanc: Select a chilled, light-bodied white wine with herbaceous notes that mirrors the fresh parsley and thyme in the soup, enhancing the vegetable flavors.
• Match with Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sprinkle aged cheddar on top of the soup, creating a rich, tangy layer that adds depth and creamy richness to the vegetable medley.
• Serve alongside Herb-Roasted Chicken: Add sliced roasted chicken seasoned with similar herbs like thyme and parsley to transform the soup into a more substantial meal with protein.

Storing Delia Smith Vegetable Soup The Smart Way

• Store leftover soup in an airtight container, cool completely before sealing. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving space for expansion. Freezes perfectly for up to 3 months. Label with date.
• Transfer desired portion to microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval. Check temperature to ensure even warming.
• Pour soup into pot, add splash of broth if needed. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Heat until steaming and reaches 165°F for food safety.

Common Questions On Delia Smith Vegetable Soup

• Can I use frozen vegetables instead of fresh ones?

Yes, frozen vegetables work great in this soup. Just add them directly to the pot and adjust cooking time slightly.

• Is this soup healthy?

Absolutely! It’s packed with nutrient-rich vegetables, low in calories, and provides essential vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet.

• Can I make this vegetable soup vegetarian or vegan?

The recipe is already vegetarian. To make it vegan, ensure your vegetable broth is plant-based and skip any dairy toppings.

• How can I add more protein to the soup?

Consider adding cooked beans, lentils, quinoa, or tofu to boost the protein content and make the soup more filling.

Vegetable Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 30-40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty vegetable soup brings comforting warmth to chilly evenings, blending garden-fresh ingredients into a nourishing bowl of pure delight. Packed with nutrients and rich flavors, this simple recipe offers a quick, wholesome meal you’ll savor with each spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Main Vegetables:

• 3 cups peeled, diced potatoes
• 1 1/2 cups chopped green beans
• 1 1/4 cups corn
• 1 cup peas
• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 2 cups peeled and chopped carrots
• 1 1/4 cups chopped celery
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Liquid Base:

• 4 (14.5 ounces/425 milliliters) cans chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 (14.5 ounces/425 milliliters) cans diced tomatoes

Herbs and Seasonings:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Warm olive oil in a substantial cooking vessel over moderate temperature until shimmering.
2. Gently sauté chopped root vegetables and aromatic base for approximately 4 minutes, creating a golden foundation of flavor.
3. Introduce minced garlic and allow to release its fragrant essence for half a minute.
4. Enhance with complementary seasoning to elevate taste profile.
5. Pour in liquid broth, crushed tomatoes, diced tubers, fresh herbal garnish, and traditional Mediterranean leaves.
6. Escalate to vigorous bubbling temperature, then incorporate crisp green legumes.
7. Diminish thermal intensity, secure with tight-fitting lid, and allow gentle simmering for 20-30 minutes until vegetables soften.
8. Fold in sweet golden kernels and petite green spheres, continuing low-heat cooking for an additional 5 minutes.
9. Extract aromatic bay leaves, ensuring no remnants remain in the liquid.
10. Ladle into warm serving vessels, presenting a vibrant and nourishing culinary creation.

Notes

• Customize vegetable variety by using seasonal or leftover vegetables for added flavor and nutrition.
• Swap out broth with vegetable, chicken, or bone broth depending on dietary preferences and desired taste profile.
• Enhance protein content by adding cooked chicken, beans, or lentils directly into the soup during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
• Create a creamier texture by blending a portion of the soup and stirring it back into the pot for a richer, more velvety consistency.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-35 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 115 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 580 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 16 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg