Description
Comforting roasted vegetable soup brings Mediterranean warmth to your kitchen, blending deep caramelized flavors with hearty winter vegetables. Nutritious ingredients meld together, creating a soul-satisfying bowl you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 small butternut squash (or sweet potato), peeled and diced
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Soup Base and Liquid Ingredients:
- 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes (or 2 fresh tomatoes, chopped)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
Instructions
- Prepare the oven for roasting at a high temperature of 425F (220C), creating an ideal environment for caramelizing vegetables.
- Arrange a colorful medley of chopped carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, butternut squash, onion, and garlic on a spacious baking sheet.
- Generously drizzle olive oil over the vegetables, then liberally sprinkle smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper to enhance their natural flavors.
- Thoroughly toss the vegetables to ensure each piece is evenly coated with seasoning and oil.
- Roast the vegetable mixture for 25-30 minutes, rotating the pan midway to promote uniform caramelization and tenderness.
- Transfer the beautifully roasted vegetables to a blender, capturing their intensified flavors.
- Add vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste to the blender, creating a smooth base (alternatively, preserve some vegetable chunks for texture).
- Blend the mixture until achieving a desired consistency – completely smooth or partially chunky.
- Pour the blended soup into a large pot, warming it over medium heat to meld the flavors.
- Introduce a splash of balsamic vinegar, allowing the soup to simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- For added richness, swirl in heavy cream or coconut milk, creating a luxurious finish.
- Taste and fine-tune the seasoning, adjusting with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Serve the vibrant soup piping hot, accompanied by crusty bread, crunchy croutons, or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Customize roasting times based on vegetable sizes to ensure even caramelization without burning.
- Choose smaller, uniform vegetable cuts for consistent cooking and better blending texture.
- Add depth by using fire-roasted diced tomatoes instead of regular canned tomatoes for smoky undertones.
- Swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or plant-based alternatives to reduce calories and accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg