Simple Garden Vegetable Soup with Herbs
A light, vibrant soup bursting with seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs, simmered to silky smooth perfection in under 30 minutes. This mediterranean-inspired soups ready in about 35 minutes pairs vegetable broth, diced carrots, stalks, diced celery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 200 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
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2, diced carrots
- 2 stalks, diced celery
- 1 medium, diced zucchini
- 1 small, diced onion
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons, chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon, chopped fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add 2 diced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, 1 diced medium zucchini, and 1 diced small onion, cooking for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then pour in 4 cups vegetable broth.
- Step 3: Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Step 4: Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or transfer to a blender in batches. Return to pot and reheat gently for 2 minutes before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Simple Garden Vegetable Soup with Herbs take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (15 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Simple Garden Vegetable Soup with Herbs?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep vegetable broth from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Simple Garden Vegetable Soup with Herbs?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Simple Garden Vegetable Soup with Herbs for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Simple Garden Vegetable Soup with Herbs?
Mediterranean soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Added this to my weekly meal rotation. So satisfying.
- ★★★★★
Absolutely wonderful.
- ★★★★★
Made this for my family and everyone asked for the recipe.