Classic Hearty Stone Vegetable Soup (Printable Version)
A comforting vegetable soup with hearty beans, barley, and root vegetables in aromatic broth.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 medium carrots, diced
02 - 2 celery stalks, diced
03 - 1 large onion, chopped
04 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 1 parsnip, diced
06 - 1 small zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
08 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
09 - 1 cup cabbage, chopped
→ Legumes & Grains
10 - 1 can (15 oz) white beans, drained and rinsed
11 - 1/2 cup pearl barley
→ Broth & Seasonings
12 - 8 cups vegetable broth
13 - 2 bay leaves
14 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
15 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Finishing
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
18 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
# How To Make:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, celery, and parsnip. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and onions become translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
03 - Add potatoes, green beans, zucchini, cabbage, and pearl barley. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth. Add bay leaves, dried thyme, dried parsley, and the clean stone if using the traditional method.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
06 - Stir in drained white beans and continue simmering for another 10 minutes until all vegetables are tender and barley is cooked through.
07 - Remove the stone if used. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It turns humble ingredients into something that feels like a warm hug
- The broth develops incredible depth from slowly simmering vegetables, not fancy stocks
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld
02 -
- Adding the stone is completely optional, but scrub it thoroughly if you decide to include this tradition
- The soup will continue to thicken as it sits, especially with barley, so add more broth when reheating leftovers
- Taste and season at the end, because the flavor concentrates significantly during simmering
03 -
- Adding a Parmesan rind during simmering creates incredible umami depth without overpowering the vegetables
- Stir in fresh spinach or kale during the last 5 minutes for extra nutrition and color