Italian Herb Vegetable Soup (Printable)

A vibrant Mediterranean soup loaded with vegetables and Italian herbs. Ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
09 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
10 - 4 cups vegetable broth
11 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
12 - 2 cups baby spinach leaves

→ Herbs and Seasonings

13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
15 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
17 - 1 bay leaf
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Optional Additions

19 - 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
20 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley for garnish
21 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

# Method:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
02 - Stir in carrots, celery, zucchini, red bell pepper, and green beans. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Add diced tomatoes with juices, vegetable broth, and diced potato. Stir in oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
04 - Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until vegetables are tender.
05 - If using cannellini beans, add to pot and simmer for 5 minutes to heat through.
06 - Remove and discard bay leaf. Stir in spinach leaves and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • It's ready in under an hour and tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • Every vegetable in your crisper drawer gets a second chance to shine together.
  • The dried herbs do heavy lifting, so you don't need to hunt down fresh basil or oregano.
  • It's naturally vegan and freezes beautifully for those chaotic weeks ahead.
02 -
  • Don't skip the initial sauté of onion and garlic; this is where the soup's personality gets built, and rushing it shows.
  • The bay leaf really does need to come out before eating, and yes, I learned this by accidentally crunching one between my teeth once.
  • If your soup tastes a bit flat near the end, it's probably just asking for a pinch more salt; add it gradually and taste as you go.
03 -
  • Make a double batch and freeze half in portions; future you will be grateful on nights when cooking feels impossible.
  • Let your knife get sharp before you start chopping vegetables; it makes the work faster and actually safer, and you'll notice the difference immediately.
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