Layered Herb and Vegetable Soup

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-21 · Updated 2026-04-21

A comforting soup built in layers with aromatic vegetables, herbs, and a creamy finish, simmered to develop deep flavor. This mediterranean-inspired soups ready in about 50 minutes pairs olive oil, onion, carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 250 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 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 stalks celery
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup kale
• 14 oz diced tomatoes
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper
• for garnish fresh basil

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 diced onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks, and cook for 7-8 minutes until softened and translucent.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup chopped kale and cook for 2 minutes until wilted.
4. Step 4: Stir in 14 oz diced tomatoes, 2 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
5. Step 5: Discard bay leaf. Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until heated through.
6. Step 6: Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil.