Hearty Vegan Vegetable Soup

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A hearty vegan vegetable soup is the perfect comfort food meal. Loaded with vegetables and rich flavor, this recipe is one you will keep in rotation on a regular basis. Made creamy with a simple vegan ingredient, it never fails to be devoured!

white bowls of vegan vegetable soup sitting on counter by fresh herbs

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Vegetable Soup
Hearty Vegan Vegetable Soup

Vegetable Soup

Everyone has a classic vegetable soup recipe in their repertoire. It's an easy meal that is low in calories, healthy, filled with nutrients, and almost always able to fit into a plant-based diet. This recipe is no different. It includes multiple vegetables to build rich flavor, and a touch of vegan cream cheese to make it more cream soup than broth-based.

Soups are versatile meals that can serve as a starter, a lunch, or a main dish. While this recipe doesn't have a lot of added protein, it is a well-balanced meal that pairs beautifully with a slice or two of our no-knead artisan bread.

Make this soup in larger batches and let it cool before portioning it into 2-cup servings to freeze. It makes the perfect grab-and-go lunch on busy days. Just pop it into a saucepan or into the microwave to heat!

large white bowl of vegan veggie soup beside freshly sliced bread

What Vegetables Go Into Vegetable Soup?

The answer is simple - any vegetables that you like can go into vegetable soup. This recipe uses onion, garlic, celery, corn, peas, carrots, cauliflower, and tomatoes. Below are some more options to consider.

Bell peppers
Jalapeno or poblano peppers
Broccoli
Zucchini or squash
Black-eyed peas
Asparagus
Green beans
Mushrooms
Turnips, rutabaga, or parsnips
Kale or spinach

You can also mix and match the type of bean you add to your soup. This uses a white bean (cannellini or Great Northern), but you could add pinto beans or even kidney beans if you prefer. For an extra kick, a chili bean could be used.

silver spoons on marble beside two white bowls of vegan vegetable soup

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 white onion, chopped
1 carrot, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1/2 cup corn (80g)
1/2 cup peas (80g)
2 cups cauliflower florets (130g)
4 cups vegetable stock (1 liter)
1 (15.5oz) can of white beans, drained (439g)
1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes (411g)
1/2 cup vegan cream cheese (90g)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 tbsp vegan butter
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
Salt and black pepper to taste

Note: Make your own homemade vegan butter and vegan cream cheese with our recipes to save money!

various sized ramekins of ingredients on marble table

Tools Used

Measuring cups and spoons: As always, measuring ingredients is important, especially for your first time preparing a meal. I keep a set of wet measuring cups, dry measuring cups, and measuring spoons in a variety of sizes on hand.
Cutting board and chef's knife: you will need to chop the celery, carrots, onion, and garlic, but potentially the cauliflower as well. Keep sharp knives on hand to make this easier.
6-quart Dutch oven or stockpot: a Dutch oven is a great investment because it is so versatile, it can be used for this recipe or a traditional stockpot with a lid.
Wooden spoon: I prefer wooden spoons for stirring soups, but you can use whatever special spoon you prefer.

two bowls of vegan vegetable soup on white table

How to Make Vegan Vegetable Soup

Begin by preparing all of your vegetables. If using frozen corn, peas, and carrots, you can simply measure these and set them aside. For the fresh ingredients, dice or chop as needed and then set them aside.

Now, in the Dutch oven or stockpot, add the olive oil and heat it over medium-low heat. To the hot oil, add the diced carrots, onions, and celery. Cook these, stirring regularly, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

carrots onion and celery in stockpot on top of hot plate on marble counter

Add the vegan butter and stir until it is melted. Then, add in the thyme and garlic. Cook this for another 1 minute. Sprinkle with flour, and stir to coat, cooking for an additional 1 minute.

vegan butter being added to cooked vegetables

flour on top of cooked vegetables in stockpot

Next, add in the cauliflower, peas, and corn. Stir together and cook for 3 minutes.

Then, add 1 cup of broth, along with the vegan cream cheese. Stir this together well, until it's incorporated. Then, add in the remaining 3 cups of broth and the can of tomatoes.

tomatoes on top of soup base in stockpot

Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Lastly, add the drained beans and stir them into the soup. Let them heat through for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Taste, and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve.

sprig of fresh thyme on top of bowl of vegetable soup

Frequently Asked Questions

What gives the vegetable soup a depth of flavor?

The combination of vegetables with just enough dried herbs brings out a nice depth of flavor. Cooking down the onions until tender and including plenty of garlic also bring a balance to the soup and increase the richness.

What broth base is best for homemade vegetable soup?

Any basic vegetable broth or vegetable stock can be used or this recipe. You can also use water with 2 bouillon cubes if you prefer.

Another great option if you like the flavor, is to use a vegan mushroom broth. This will add tons of earthy flavor and richness that a basic broth would not. In a pinch, you can even make a batch of vegan mushroom gravy and use it in the soup to thicken and add flavor.

sliced bread on board behind white bowl of veggie soup

What Goes with Vegetable Soup?

Not sure what to serve alongside this tasty soup? We've got you covered with some great ideas below. While this is a meal by itself, soup is often served with a bit of something on the side, or as a starter to the meal.

For dipping into the soup, a side of freshly made no-knead vegan focaccia bread, vegan naan bread, or a slice of vegan cornbread can all work well.

If you want to create a larger meal, you can serve this as a starter for something like our vegan Salisbury steak, or our vegan ham recipe. Both are delicious and hearty, and pair great with this soup!

veggie soup in white bowl topped by fresh herbs

More Vegan Soup Recipes

Of course, you may want to add more soups to your menu and give it a bit of variety. Below are a few of my favorites that I know you will enjoy. Take a moment to check them out, bookmark your favorites, print out the best recipes, or even pin them to Pinterest to make soon!

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