Let’s be honest, soup is underrated. I mean really when you think about it, it is a wonderfully warming, filling and nourishing meal in a bowl, so what’s not to love? And when we’re talking vegetable soup, there’s even more reasons to eat it because it is packed with healthy ingredients that are good for you. Unfortunately though, veggie soup often gets overlooked as a meal option because it’s considered bland and boring. Well not anymore! We’re making it our mission to have you fall in love with vegetable soup. How? By showing you our top tips to make soup that’s full of flavour and texture.
1. Aromatics are key
Start your soup making journey by heating some good quality olive oil over medium-high heat and adding aromatics – try onion, garlic, leeks, or shallots and cook for about 3 minutes. Now’s the time to also add some core ingredients such as carrot and celery.
2. It’s all about the base
The next step to make your soup really tasty is to add some depth of flavour to the base. A great option is the rind of a piece of parmesan cheese as it will add a delicious salty flavour – just be sure to remove whatever is left of the rind from the soup before serving. You can also add tomato paste or fresh or dried herbs like oregano or thyme.
3. Root vegetables
Starchy root vegetables like potato, parsnips, turnips and swede will add body to the soup and turn it into a true meal in a bowl.
4. Liquid gold
Using a good-quality stock (or making your own) will enhance the flavour of the soup. Bring stock to the boil when you add it to the soup and then reduce the heat so that it simmers gently.
5. Veg it up
It wouldn’t be vegetable soup without vegetables and once you have your base and root veggies sorted, it’s time to add in whatever other vegetables you like. These should be quicker cooking vegetables like peas, beans, corn, broccoli, zucchini, or mushrooms.
6. Let’s get textural
The final step is to add some texture to your soup. This is really important to overcome that “boring and bland” problem. You can add more vegetables like spinach or kale, or try cooked pasta, rice, canned chickpeas or other legumes.
So there you have it, six simple steps to making sensational vegetable soup. There is a seventh step that we think is also very important, although entirely optional. We recommend serving your flavourful soup with some wickedly crusty bread. After all, it is the perfect way to soak up all that delicious soup flavour.
