Provençal Vegetable Stew with Spinach Herb Sauce

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-15 · Updated 2026-04-15

A hearty stew of seasonal vegetables simmered in a herby tomato base, finished with a vibrant spinach sauce for a burst of fresh flavor. This french-inspired vegetarian ready in about 50 minutes blends olive oil, diced medium onion, diced carrots into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 300 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. 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, diced medium onion
• 2, diced carrots
• 2, diced celery stalks
• 1, diced zucchini
• 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks, and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Add 1 diced zucchini and 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, 2 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp dried rosemary, and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Step 3: Remove the bay leaf. Stir in 2 cups fresh spinach, 1/4 cup fresh basil, and 1/4 cup fresh parsley, and cook for 3 minutes until the spinach is wilted.
4. Step 4: In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper. Blend the stew with an immersion blender until smooth, or transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.