Creamy Vegetable Soup (Printable)
Velvety soup of mixed vegetables in an herb broth, finished with cream; comforting, nourishing and easy to make.
# 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
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
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional, for garnish
# Directions:
01 - In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
02 - Add sliced carrots, celery, and diced potato. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
03 - Stir in diced zucchini, green beans, and peas. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth. Add dried thyme, dried parsley, bay leaf, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Increase heat and bring mixture to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove the bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or leave some texture if preferred.
07 - Stir in heavy cream and heat gently for 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
08 - Ladle into bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This soup tastes deceptively indulgent, but relies mostly on wholesome vegetables and pantry staples.
- You can make it ahead, and it only gets silkier after a rest in the fridge—the leftovers are legendary.
02 -
- If you rush the blending while the soup’s piping hot, it can splatter everywhere—let it cool just a bit before whizzing.
- Switching to coconut milk for a dairy-free batch brought a subtle sweetness that surprised me and won over even confirmed cream lovers.
03 -
- Never skip letting the aromatics get fully translucent—it unlocks a depth of flavor that shortcuts can’t match.
- Garnish each bowl just before eating, so the herbs stay lively and the colors pop.