Winter Spiced Apple and Root Vegetable Soup
A warming, slightly sweet soup blending roasted apples and root vegetables with warming spices, perfect to cozy up on a cold day. This soup recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 50 minutes, pairs yellow onion, diced, garlic cloves, minced, carrots, peeled and diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 140 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
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 medium parsnip, peeled and diced
- 1 large tart apple, peeled and diced
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss 2 diced carrots, 1 diced parsnip, and 1 large diced peeled tart apple with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes until tender and caramelized around edges.
- Step 2: While vegetables roast, heat a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 5 minutes until soft and fragrant.
- Step 3: Add the roasted vegetables to the pot along with 4 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes to meld flavors.
- Step 4: Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot garnished with a sprig of thyme.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Winter Spiced Apple and Root Vegetable Soup take to make?
Total time is about 50 minutes (15 min prep + 35 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 Winter Spiced Apple and Root Vegetable Soup?
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 yellow onion, diced from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Winter Spiced Apple and Root Vegetable Soup?
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 Winter Spiced Apple and Root Vegetable Soup 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.
Is Winter Spiced Apple and Root Vegetable Soup vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
