This hearty vegetable soup recipe is healthy, easy to make, and tastes amazing. It’s also vegan when you use vegetable broth. Since vegetables vary by seasonality, swap or add different vegetables for the veggies listed below. Kale or spinach, for example, is an excellent substitute for cabbage.
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped onion, 1 large
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 (1420ml) stock or broth, see our veggie broth or 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
Heat the olive oil in a large 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 and 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, 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 use lemon juice). Taste and season with more salt, pepper, or vinegar. Serve.