Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup

When I went to the Winter Park Farmer's Market a few weekends ago, I bought some beautiful fresh vegetables.  I decided to make vegetable soup in the slow cooker.   I found this recipe on the website Cooking Classy that worked out just perfectly!  This recipe has the perfect mix of fresh and frozen vegetables which adds to the simplicity of making the soup.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1-1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
• 2 cups peeled and chopped carrots (about 5)
• 1-1/4 cups chopped celery (about 3 stalks)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 (14.5 oz) cans low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth (I used vegetable broth.)
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 3 cups peeled and 1/2-inch thick diced potatoes (about 3 medium)
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1-1/2 cups chopped frozen or fresh green beans (I used fresh.)
• 1-1/4 cups frozen or fresh corn (I used frozen corn.)
• 1 cup frozen or fresh peas (I used frozen peas.)

Directions:

• To make the soup in a slow cooker, saute the onions, carrots, and celery for a few minutes.  Add the garlic and saute 1 minute longer.  
• Add the mixture to the slow cooker along with the potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, herbs, broth, salt and pepper.
• Cook until veggies are tender on high heat about 3 hours or low heat about 6-7 hours.  Add peas and corn during the last 30 minutes. 

Vegetable Soup!

This vegetable soup can also be made on the stove top.  Just heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.  Then add the onions, carrots, and celery and saute 4 minutes.  Next, add the garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.  Then add the broth, tomatoes, potatoes, parsley, bay leaves, thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Bring to a boil, then add the green beans.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until potatoes are almost fully tender, about 20-30 minutes.  Add the corn and peas and cook 5 minutes longer.  Serve warm.

This soup is really delicious!  It freezes well, too! You could also add extra herbs for more flavor such as basil, oregano, marjoram, or Italian seasoning, if desired.  I hope you enjoy this soup that contains beautiful vegetables you can find this spring and summer!

Beautiful veggies!