Description
Comfort meets convenience in this busy day soup, a quick and hearty meal that rescues weeknight dinners with minimal effort. Packed with savory ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, you’ll savor each spoonful of warmth and satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup cooked beans or lentils
- 2 cups chopped vegetables (carrots, celery, zucchini)
Aromatics and Spices:
- 1 cup diced onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Optional Proteins and Extras:
- Shredded chicken
- Cooked ground beef
- Tofu
- Kale
- Spinach
- Sweet potatoes
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Small pasta
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a spacious pot over medium heat, sautéing onions and garlic until they release a fragrant aroma and turn translucent.
- Introduce chopped carrots, celery, and zucchini to the pot, allowing vegetables to soften and develop a slight golden hue for approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Pour vegetable or chicken broth and diced tomatoes into the pot, gradually increasing heat until the liquid reaches a gentle bubbling state.
- Incorporate beans or lentils into the simmering mixture, seasoning with thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper to enhance the soup’s depth of flavor.
- Reduce heat to low, covering the pot and allowing the soup to gently simmer for 25-35 minutes, enabling ingredients to meld and develop a rich, cohesive taste.
- During the final 10 minutes of cooking, consider adding protein sources like shredded chicken, cooked ground turkey, or cubed tofu, along with optional grains such as quinoa or rice.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, ensuring a balanced and satisfying flavor profile before serving the hearty soup hot.
Notes
- For a protein boost, toss in cooked chicken, shredded beef, or tofu during the final simmering stage.
- Swap regular beans with canned or pre-cooked legumes to reduce overall cooking time and simplify preparation.
- Enhance nutrition by adding nutrient-dense greens like kale or spinach in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking to preserve their vibrant color and texture.
- Make this soup gluten-free by ensuring all broth and canned ingredients are certified gluten-free and avoiding wheat-based additives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg