Pompeii-Inspired Rustic Italian Vegetable and Herb Soup

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-25 · Updated 2026-05-25

A hearty vegetable soup infused with fragrant Italian herbs, inspired by the ancient flavors of Pompeii. This Italian-inspired soup recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 55 minutes, pairs olive oil, yellow onion, carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 140 calories and feeds 6, 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

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 2 medium, diced carrots
• 2, diced celery stalks
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 medium, diced zucchini
• 1 can (14.5 oz) canned diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion, 2 diced medium carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks. Sauté for 6-7 minutes until vegetables soften and onions become translucent.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 diced medium zucchini, 1 can (14.5 oz) canned diced tomatoes with juices, and 6 cups vegetable broth to the pot. Stir in 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using.
4. Step 4: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes until vegetables are tender and flavors meld.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving warm.