Nourishing Winter Veggie Soup (Printable)

A hearty blend of winter vegetables and quinoa simmered in an aromatic broth for cozy meals.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 1 medium parsnip, peeled and diced
07 - 1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced
08 - 1 cup chopped kale or Swiss chard, stems removed
09 - 1 cup chopped cabbage
10 - 1 cup diced tomatoes, fresh or canned

→ Grains & Legumes

11 - 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed

→ Broth & Seasonings

12 - 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
18 - Juice of 1/2 lemon, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
02 - Incorporate carrots, celery, parsnip, and sweet potato; cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally to soften.
03 - Stir in chopped kale or Swiss chard, cabbage, and diced tomatoes; cook for an additional 2 minutes to combine flavors.
04 - Add rinsed quinoa, vegetable broth, dried thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring mixture to a rolling boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until vegetables are tender and quinoa is fully cooked.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in fresh parsley and, if desired, lemon juice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle the soup into bowls and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and fills your whole kitchen with the most comforting smell.
  • The quinoa makes it hearty enough to be a complete meal, but it's light enough that you don't feel weighed down afterward.
  • You can throw in whatever vegetables you have on hand, so it's never boring and always forgiving.
02 -
  • If your vegetables are cut too large, they'll still be crunchy when the quinoa is done—aim for roughly the same size pieces so everything finishes together.
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa, or you'll taste a slightly bitter, soapy flavor that nothing else can fix.
  • If you're using canned tomatoes, pour some of that liquid into the pot too—it adds flavor and helps everything cook evenly.
03 -
  • Cut everything roughly the same size so the vegetables finish cooking at the same time—uneven pieces mean some will be mushy while others are still crunchy.
  • Don't cover the pot while your vegetables are sautéing; you want that initial moisture to evaporate so they caramelize slightly and develop deeper flavor.
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