Description
Hearty cream of vegetable soup blends garden-fresh produce with rich, silky textures. Comforting ingredients simmer together, creating a nourishing bowl that connects seasonal flavors and culinary traditions you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 carrots, medium, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 potato, medium, peeled and diced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup cauliflower florets
- 1 cup zucchini, diced
- 1 onion, medium, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups (1 L/1 qt) vegetable or chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 mL/4 fl oz) heavy cream or half-and-half
- 2 tbsps olive oil or unsalted butter
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parsley, fresh, chopped
- Croutons or toasted bread
- Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Create a flavor foundation by gently sweating onions, garlic, carrots, and celery in olive oil or butter over medium heat until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Layer Vegetables: Incorporate diced potato, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini into the aromatic mixture, stirring to distribute heat and develop complex flavor profiles for 2-3 minutes.
- Simmer and Infuse: Pour vegetable broth into the pot, adding thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Bring to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, covering and allowing vegetables to tenderize and merge flavors for 18-20 minutes.
- Transform Texture: Remove bay leaf and use an immersion blender to puree the soup, creating a smooth, luxurious consistency. Alternatively, partially blend to maintain some vegetable chunks for rustic texture.
- Finish and Season: Gently fold in heavy cream, whisking to achieve a silky smoothness. Calibrate seasoning with salt and black pepper, ensuring a balanced flavor profile. Warm carefully without reaching a boil.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle into serving bowls, embellishing with fresh parsley, crisp croutons, or a delicate sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to elevate visual appeal and introduce textural complexity.
Notes
- Choose Fresh Vegetables: Select vibrant, crisp vegetables at peak ripeness to maximize flavor and nutritional value.
- Control Blending Texture: Use an immersion blender strategically to create desired soup consistency – completely smooth or with gentle vegetable chunks.
- Prevent Cream Curdling: Add cream off direct heat and avoid boiling to maintain silky, smooth texture without separation.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Sauté vegetables thoroughly before adding liquid to develop rich, caramelized undertones that elevate overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg