A Classic Vegetable Soup for a Simple Weeknight Meal

A Classic Vegetable Soup for a Simple Weeknight Meal

A pot of vegetable soup can be a practical choice for a busy evening at home. This classic recipe serves four, takes around 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook. It is also a useful way to use up vegetables and bring more variety to the table.

The recipe below follows the NHS Classic vegetable soup recipe. Serve the finished soup with a slice of wholemeal bread for a simple meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 leek, sliced
  • 2 celery sticks, sliced
  • 1 tin chopped tomatoes or 400g passata
  • 1L reduced-salt vegetable stock
  • 1 tablespoon tomato purée
  • 50g sugar snap peas or green beans, sliced
  • 50g frozen peas
  • 40g dried pasta shapes
  • 1.5 teaspoons dried mixed herbs
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper

Method

  1. Gently fry the onion, carrots, leek and celery in the vegetable oil for 3 to 4 minutes.
  2. Add the chopped tomatoes or passata, tomato purée, sugar snap peas or green beans, frozen peas and vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to the boil.
  3. Add the dried pasta, mixed herbs and black pepper. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked. Stir frequently so that the pasta does not stick.
  4. Allow the soup to cool for a few minutes, then ladle it into bowls and serve with wholemeal bread.

Making it work on a weeknight

After work, preparing the vegetables first can help make the cooking process feel more manageable. Keep the ingredients nearby, then add them to the pot in the order given. At a family meal, children can help add the prepared vegetables and pasta before simmering, while an adult manages the hob and hot pan.

If there is soup left after dinner, let it cool before storing it for another meal. The source advises that unused soup can be chilled in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. This may be helpful when planning a packed lunch or an easy later meal.

A simple bowl for everyday meals

This recipe combines familiar vegetables, pasta and stock in one pot, making it an approachable option for an ordinary evening. Preparing a larger batch can also give you a ready-made meal to return to when time is short.

For more general health information, visit ISAW Medical.

This article is for general education and does not replace personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

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