Borges' Authentic Existentialist Soup

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-06 · Updated 2026-04-06

A philosophically inspired vegetable broth with layered textures that embody the 'authentic' essence of existence. This soups (mediterranean) ready in about 45 minutes pairs diced into 1/4-inch cubes celery stalks, finely diced yellow onion, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 medium, diced into 1/4-inch cubes carrots
• 2, diced into 1/4-inch cubes celery stalks
• 1, finely diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 (14 oz can) diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups, packed fresh spinach
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat a large pot over medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil. Sauté diced carrots, celery, and onion until softened (8-10 minutes), stirring occasionally to prevent browning.
2. Step 2: Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in dried thyme and bay leaves.
3. Step 3: Pour in 4 cups vegetable broth and diced tomatoes, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
4. Step 4: Remove bay leaves, stir in 2 cups fresh spinach until wilted (1-2 minutes), then stir in 1 tsp lemon zest.
5. Step 5: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if needed. Serve hot with crusty bread for dipping.