How to Make Vegetable Soup

Do you need a great vegetable soup recipe? Homemade vegetable soup can be on the table in under an hour, with all the goodness and nutrients of fresh vegetables. A pot of soup on the stove enriches the house with wonderful smells while its cooking. Vegetable soup is a healthy and inexpensive meal that comforts the soul as well as feeds the body.

This vegetable soup recipe is flexible; you can vary the ingredients to match what you have on hand, creating an inexpensive lunch or dinner. Read on to learn how to make vegetable soup and customize it to your taste.

• Collect the following kitchen tools and ingredients to make six servings of vegetable soup:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
• 1 cup of chopped onion
• 1/2 cup of chopped celery
• 1 cup of chopped carrot
• 2 cups of additional chopped vegetables such as green beans, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes or turnips
• 5 cups of chicken, vegetable, veal or beef stock
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Equipment

• Three-quart saucepan
• Spoon
• Stove

1. Melt the butter or heat the oil over low heat in the saucepan.

2. Add the vegetables and sauté for about 10 minutes or until softened.

3. Add the stock and bring the mixture to a boil.

4. Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork.

5. Add parsley, salt, and pepper to taste.

You may want to consider changing the ingredients in your vegetable soup to reflect the produce of the season. Different vegetables grow best during different times of year, and this is when they are likely to taste their freshest and also cost the least. Seasonal vegetables will vary according to the region that you live in.

If you want to make your soup in as environmentally friendly a manner as possible, you will want use veggies that are grown locally as well as in season. This is because nonlocal, out of season produce needs to be shipped to your area, resulting in unnecessary pollution and fuel use.http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/seasonal/

1. Add two cloves of garlic with the vegetables, if desired
2. Additional herbs, such as chives or marjoram, can be used to enhance the flavor of the soup.
3. Use a beef stock when using more-robust vegetables like turnips and tomatoes; use a veal stock for a more delicate flavor.
4. Canned broth can be substituted for stock; you'll need less salt.
5. If the soup is too thick, add more stock until it's the desired consistency.
6. Noodles or rice should be cooked separately and added to the soup immediately before serving.
7. Shredded cooked chicken or beef can be added for a more substantial soup.