This hearty vegetable soup recipe is healthy, easy to make, and tastes fantastic. It’s also vegan when a vegetable broth is used! Since vegetables vary by seasonality, feel free to swap or add different vegetables for the ones listed below. Kale or spinach, for example, is an excellent substitute for cabbage.
YOU WILL NEED
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped onion (1 medium)
1 ½ cups chopped carrot (3 to 4 carrots)
1 ½ cups chopped celery (2 to 3 stalks)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
3/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes with their liquid
6 cups stock or broth, see our ultra-satisfying veggie broth or homemade chicken stock
2 cups chopped potato (2 medium)
3 to 4 heaped cups chopped or shredded cabbage
2 bay leaves
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice, optional
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oil in a stockpot pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and tomato paste. Cook, stirring often until the vegetables have softened and the onions are translucent; 8 to 10 minutes.
Add the garlic, fennel, black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the red pepper flakes. Cook, while stirring, for one minute.
Pour in the canned tomatoes and their juices as well as the stock/broth.
Add the potatoes, cabbage, and bay leaves. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Partially cover the pot with a lid, and then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer.
Simmer for 20 minutes or until the potatoes, and other vegetables are tender. Add the frozen peas and cook for five more minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and remove the bay leaves. Stir in the cider vinegar (or lemon juice). Taste and season with more salt, pepper or vinegar. Serve.
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