22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (2024)

Hearty and rich vegetable soups make for great appetizers and main courses. Here, we've gathered Food & Wine's best vegetable soup recipes that are easy to make, flavorful, and pair well with a variety of other dishes throughout the year. Some recipes are innovative while others are more traditional; from winter vegetable minestrone to tomato-quinoa soup, these stellar veggie soups are some of our favorites.

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Miso-Roasted Vegetable Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (1)

Miso, soy sauce, canned tomatoes, and a dash of smoked paprika work beautifully in this savory vegetable soup. Roast vegetables in the oven for tenderness and a caramelized flavor.

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Borscht with Buttermilk and Grated Cucumber

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (2)

Packed with fresh summer herbs, this chilled beet soup is bright, earthy, and doesn't require turning on your stove. Grated beets are quickly marinated in a pickle juice brine to mellow their earthiness before they are stirred together with grated cucumber and buttermilk for a crisp, cooling bite.

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French Onion Soup with Roasted Poblanos

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (3)

Hiding under blankets of bubbling Gruyère, thick slices of baguette soak up a soup suffused with flavor from a mountain of jammy onions, balsamic vinegar, and bay leaves. Chef Carlos Gaytán uses a gentle base of chicken broth that allows the allium flavors to truly shine. Poblano chiles add a mild, vegetal heat and slight charred flavor.

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Creamy Mashed Potato Soup with Dashi

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (4)

Dashi and soy sauce add umami to buttery leftover mashed potatoes in this cozy soup from chef Shota Nakajima. Substitute any mashed vegetable you have on hand, such as cauliflower or sweet potato — but be sure to finish the soup with generous pats of melting butter and an extra drizzle of soy.

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Tomato Lemon Rasam

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (5)

This rasam has the tangy flavor profile you expect from the South Indian favorite, but gets its punchy brightness from lemon juice stirred in at the end instead of the traditional tamarind. The broth may appear to be simple, but boasts great depth of flavor from warm spices like cumin and coriander and the blend of ginger, garlic, and chiles mixed in, plus the fried curry leaves, turmeric, and mustard seeds.

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Moroccan Chickpea, Carrot, and Spinach Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (6)

Gently sautéed onions add sweetness and a smooth texture. Carrots provide heft, more sweetness, and their cheerful orange color complements the buff tones of the beans. For seasoning, a heady mixture of garlic, cumin, ginger, turmeric, and cayenne pays homage to the cuisines of North Africa where chickpeas prevail. And finally, tender spinach leaves bring a welcome jolt of green and their earthy minerality balances the sweet.

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Tomato and Quinoa Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (7)

Drizzle this soup with olive oil or stir in a tender green, such as arugula or baby spinach. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to serve a bowl alongside a grilled cheese sandwich, either.

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Roasted Carrot Soup with Fresh Cheese and Black Bread

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (8)

Baltic black bread, traditionally made with rye flour and sourdough starter, is dense and sour with a tight crumb. The rye flavor gives this vegetarian soup earthy depth. A sprinkle of homemade cheese curds and fresh herbs lighten up each bowl.

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"Everybody" Potato-Leek Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (9)

You can serve this soup many ways: with a dollop of crème fraîche and smoked salmon, topped with roasted broccoli florets and shredded cheddar cheese, or simply plain, as it has a mellow, delicious flavor on its own.

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Pumpkin Soup with Thai Red Curry Paste and Lemongrass

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (10)

This pureed pumpkin soup was inspired by Thai flavors. It's made especially creamy with the addition of coconut milk, while the Thai red curry paste and garlic lend depth and heat. The lemongrass, ginger, and squeeze of fresh lime juice brighten the flavors in each spoonful.

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Cauliflower Soup with Herbed Goat Cheese

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (11)

This luscious, creamy cauliflower soup from television chef Anne Burrell gets a delicious topping of crispy roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts, then a sprinkle of herbed goat cheese.

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Creamy Carrot Soup with Scallions and Poppy Seeds

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (12)

Longtime F&W test kitchen supervisor Marcia Kiesel's luxuriously creamy soup is the perfect starter for fall dinners because it can be made in advance, then reheated just before serving.Two bright garnishes bring extra flavor and color to the bowl.

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Smoky Tomato Soup with Gruyère Toasts

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (13)

Using the sweetest, ripest tomatoes in season, we make a simple yet luscious soup flavored with smoked paprika — also called pimentón — and served with crunchy cheese toasts.

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Provençal Vegetable Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (14)

This vegetable-packed soup from star chef Eric Ripert gets exceptional flavor from pistou, the pesto-style basil puree that's served with it. To make a vegetarian version, omit the ham and substitute vegetable stock.

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Curried Kabocha Squash Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (15)

This velvety, spiced squash soup has layers of flavor, thanks to red chiles, tangy lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar, plus a subtle touch of fish sauce.

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Broccoli-Spinach Soup with Crispy Broccoli Florets and Croutons

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (16)

Given this soup's supremely silky texture, you'll think it's made with cream, but that texture actually comes from a potato pureed into the broth. For contrast, F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple tops the soup with crispy broccoli florets and croutons.

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Vegetable Hot-and-Sour Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (17)

Chef and author Eileen Yin-Fei Lo's Vegetable Hot-and-Sour Soup offers an extraordinary depth of flavor from ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil, and layers of texture from lily buds, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots.

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Winter Vegetable Minestrone

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (18)

“I am forever championing root vegetables,” says chef Alex Guarnaschelli. “My father made so many wonderful salads from celery root and other under-loved vegetables when I was growing up.” Here, she simmers celery root and rutabaga in a spicy, basil-scented broth for a winter version of the Italian classic.

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Lentil Soup with Broccoli Rabe

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (19)

Cook the broccoli rabe in a separate pan, not in the soup pot. That way, any excess bitterness from the vegetable goes down the drain with the cooking water rather than into the soup. You'll find, though, that a bit of bite enlivens the lentils.

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Kidney Bean Soup

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (20)

Warm, hearty, and deeply comforting, this kidney bean soup gets a nice kick from crushed red pepper and brightness from a bit of mustard.

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Cabbage and Kale Soup with Farro

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (21)

"I love a really flavorful pot of greens," says chef Melissa Perello. For this kale-cabbage soup, she uses just a little bit of pancetta and a Parmesan cheese rind to give the broth a rich flavor. "It's definitely the kind of dish that tastes even better the next day," she says.

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Sweet Pea Soup with Majorero Cream and Roncal Crisps

22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (22)

This silky, vividly colored sweet pea puree is ideal for entertaining because it's delicious both warm and at room temperature; the soup and crisps can be made entirely ahead, and the tart Majorero cream can be melted just before serving.

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22 Satisfying Vegetable Soup Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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 are good spices to put in vegetable soup? ›

Flavor Makers

Spices and dry herbs: a combination of warm spices and dry herbs give this soup depth. I used dry thyme, coriander, turmeric, and sweet paprika. Lime: citrus goes a long way in adding brightness and rounding out the flavor in this soup.

What is the flavorful liquid that adds more flavor to a vegetable meal? ›

A stock is a very flavorful liquid that is made by gently cooking bones and other ingredients such as vegetables in a liquid.

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 makes homemade soup taste better? ›

To make a good soup, you have to build flavours as you go. Vegetables like onion, garlic, celery and carrots — referred to as "aromatics" — are part of most soup recipes for this very reason, sautéed in oil or butter as a first step of flavour-making.

What are three qualities of a good soup? ›

A soup's quality is determined by its flavor, appearance and texture. A good soup should be full-flavored, with no off or sour tastes. Flavors from each of the soup's ingre- dients should blend and complement, with no one flavor overpowering another.

How do you fix tasteless vegetable soup? ›

Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness. Add ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, soy sauce, miso, or seaweed to enhance the flavor of your soup. Use fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil or thyme to add fresh flavor to your soup.

What gives soup more flavor? ›

Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

What can I add to soup to make it rich? ›

Add Cream: Let's get the obvious one out of the way.

Whether you use a few tablespoons or a few cups, cream gives soup a silky mouthfeel and rich flavor. You can definitely add milk or other dairy as well, though it will taste gradually less creamy as you go down in percent.

What to add to soup to make more filling? ›

Add a source of protein

Bump up the satiety factor of broth-based vegetable or noodle soups with some additional protein. Leftover diced chicken, cubes of seared tofu, a cooked egg, shredded cheese or canned beans will leave you feeling fuller longer.

How do you add flavor to a bland vegetable soup? ›

Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness. Add ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, soy sauce, miso, or seaweed to enhance the flavor of your soup. Use fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil or thyme to add fresh flavor to your soup.

How do you add depth to vegetable broth? ›

Boost the Umami of Vegetable Broth

Soy sauce, tamari, or liquid aminos add great depth, but watch out for using too much—you'll end up making the stock only taste like super-salty soy. Start with about 2 teaspoons per quart and adjust from there. Remember, you can always add more.

How do you make vegetable soup less bland? ›

A little tomato sauce, garlic, salt, and bay leaves while cooking was Patty's recommendation. Barbara said, “I add a beef billion cube, oregano, basil and garlic.” That would definitely spice up the soup. The bullion usually adds a lot of sodium so you get a lot of salty flavor. “Six pepper, sparingly”, Laureen said.

How do you get depth in soup? ›

Simmering vegetables in a covered pot over low heat so that they steam in their own liquid—a French technique called à l'étouffée—is the ticket to achieving a soup with pronounced depth. We love this method with cauliflower, but also try it with celeriac or rutabagas.

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