Italian Balsamic Vegetable Soup is a healthy 30 minute meal that is bursting with flavor thanks to a secret ingredient! The easiest way to eat your veggies.
I could talk your ear off about this Italian Balsamic Vegetable Soup. It is full of sweet squash, hearty greens and beans, tender carrots, onions, and garlic swimming in a rich herb-infused tomato broth.
It is an easy one pot soup that has the depth of flavor that most 30 minute meals can only dream of.
How to add depth of flavor to easy vegetable soup:
Cooked-all-day soup is truly a wonder. It has layers and layers of flavor. It is deep and rich and when done right, is one of the tastiest meals around town.
But what's a soup loving gal to do when she needs a good bowl of soup STAT? My soup craving led me to wonder, how do you mimic that cooked all day flavor?
Short answer: balsamic vinegar.
Long answer: Balsamic vinegar is rich, deep and has flavor for dayssss. Just look at it's rich dark purple, almost black, color. That is concentrated flavor right there.
Real balsamic vinegar is made by crushing grapes, reducing the juices until it has concentrated in flavor and color and then aging it in wood barrels. All that concentrated, aged flavor infuses right into our soup.
I can't stop talking about this soup because:
- It is BURSTING with flavor. I know, I know, it's just vegetables and it's just soup. But seriously. Flavor city.
- You can customize it to use up the vegetables in your fridge.
- This soup is an easy way to eat loads of vegetables in one serving.
- Serve it with a side of crusty bread and vegan butter and this soup becomes an easy, 30 minute meal.
- It's made in one pot! And less cleanup time means more time to sink into the couch and binge watch your favorite show.
- It is so hearty, warming and comforting - my ideal winter meal.
Italian Balsamic Vegetable Soup
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Italian Balsamic Vegetable Soup is a healthy 30 minute meal that is bursting with flavor thanks to a secret ingredient! The easiest way to eat your veggies.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons good extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chopped hearty greens (collard, kale, and swiss chard all work well)
- 2 (15) oz can beans with their liquid
- 1 ½ cups winter squash (butternut, kabocha, etc.)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 (15)oz can diced stewed tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ tablespoon vegan and gluten free Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat. Add in the onion, carrot, celery, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently until the onion is translucent and the veggies have softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add in the remaining ingredients. Bring the soup up to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil and simmer for 5 more minutes.
- Ladle into bowls and serve.
Notes
While this recipe has a long ingredient list, once you have the prep work behind you, the cooking time flies by.
The Worcestershire sauce is optional, but adds another layer of rich flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙th recipe
- Calories: 299
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 11g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 2mg
John Price says
I'd alway thought that Worcestershire Sauce contained Anchovy and therefore was not Vegan,however Henderson's Yorkshire Relish IS Vegan and a very acceptable substitute.
In fact some of us prefer it!
Kelly says
This recipe is a staple in our house! I love how you can change up the beans and greens. We love small white beans and chard. We are not vegan, so I often make some small meatballs on the side so people can add their own meat if desired.