Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

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Healthy and well-balanced, this Vegetable Quinoa Soup filled with hearty vegetables, protein rich quinoa and beans is oil-free and so easy to make using a slow cooker, Instant Pot or stovetop method!

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (1)

It’s another rainy day in Southern California, and as much as I love the sun, the rain is always welcome. So what could be better on a rainy day than a bowl of warm, nourishing soup brimming with an abundance of vegetables, quinoa and flavorful herbs!

Using cabbage leftover from this, A Very Good Vegan Split Pea Soup, and zucchini I had on hand gave me a good starting point. Add to that the usual mix of carrots, celery and onion, along with diced tomatoes, beans, quinoa and herbs completes the medley of goodness!

Not only is this vegan vegetable soup with quinoa super easy to make (whether in the crock pot or on the stove-top), but overall you will find the ingredients to be accessible, healthy and low-fat. It has all the attributes I love!

For those who don’t care for quinoa, you will love it in soups – I promise! It adds fiber, protein, and cooks up perfectly every time.

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2)

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Ingredients You’ll Need

In this recipe, onion, carrots, celery, and herbs are sauteed and simmered with quinoa, cabbage, tomatoes, zucchini and beans for a healthy and delicious soup perfect for a vegan lunch, dinner or meal prep idea.

Here is everything you will need:

  • Quinoa – I used a tri-color, use your favorite color quinoa
  • Cabbage – green or savoy cabbage, or sub with a few handfuls of spinach or kale
  • Zucchini – sub with yellow squash or use a combo
  • Carrots
  • Celery – feel free to add a few leaves
  • Onion – any color will do
  • Herbs – I used herbs de provence, but feel free to use thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano or Italian seasoning blend.
  • Tomatoes – use diced tomatoes (pref fire roasted)
  • Beans – use your favorite. I used a three bean medley and one can of white beans.
  • Vegetable broth – I use and recommend 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of BTB Veg Paste (affiliate link) with water. The jar lasts forever and the flavor is delicious!
  • Salt + pepper

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (3)

How To Make Vegetable Quinoa Soup

(Note – The full printable recipe and instructions for Instant Pot, stovetop and slow cooker methods is at the bottom of this post)

  • Start by sauteing the onion, carrots and celery for 4 minutes, add the dried herbs and garlic powder and continue to cook for 1 minute more.

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (4)

  • Add the quinoa, beans, cabbage, zucchini, tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, pour the vegetable broth overtop.

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (5)

  • Give a good stir and cook according to the method used as noted in the recipe card below.

And there you have it, shown below, a hearty vegetable soup with quinoa to nourish your day. Cheers to good food that encourages good health!

Top Tips

  • Serve with avocado. This soup is especially delicious served with avocado, adding creaminess and another layer of flavor!

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (6)

How To Store

  • Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container.
  • Freezer: This quinoa vegetable soup freezes well for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer safe containers (affiliate link), leaving 1/2 inch head space for expansion. Let thaw before reheating.
  • Reheat: Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave using 30 – 60 second intervals, stirring after each, until warm.
  • Meal prep: It makes a great meal prep for the week with homemade Artisan Bread or Naan on the side for soaking up the juices.

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (7)

Serving Suggestions

Pair this healthy vegetable quinoa soup with a side for an even heartier and filling meal. Here are a few of my favorite options:

  • Bread: Serve with a slice of homemadeArtisan Bread, soft & chewyNaan Bread, or gluten-freeSoccaflatbread for soaking up the juices.
  • Salad: Pair with a House Salad, Green Salad + Chickpeas, or simple leafy green salad with Vegan Ranch,Lemon-Herb Hemp Dressingor.
  • Sandwich: Pair with this,Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich, orVegan Egg Salad Sandwich!
  • Veggies + dip: It’s wonderful served with veggies sticks and Classic Hummus or Simple White Bean Hummusfor a light snack or lunch.

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (8)

More Easy Soup Recipes

Soups can be light or hearty, and make great lunch and dinner ideas. Take a look at these other vegan soup recipes, you just may find a new favorite!

  • Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup(a fan favorite!)
  • Creamy Broccoli + Red Lentil Soup
  • See all vegan Soup recipes on TSV!

If you try this easy soup recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

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VEGTABLE QUINOA SOUP

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 8 reviews

Bursting with vegetables and flavor, this vegetable quinoa soup recipe is another great vegan soup for the crockpot, Instant Pot or stovetop!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Vegansita
  • Cook Time: 1 - 8 hours
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: Serves 4 - 6 1x
  • Category: Soup, Entree
  • Method: Slow Cooker, Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 large carrots, sliced or diced
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1/4 head of cabbage, chopped
  • 2 medium zucchini, cut in half & sliced
  • 1 can (14 oz.) diced tomatoes with juices (pref. fire roasted)
  • 2 cans (14 oz.) beans of choice, drained and rinsed (I used one can white beans & one can three bean medley)
  • 1/3 cup dry quinoa
  • 2 teaspoons herbes de provence or 1 teaspoon each thyme & rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
  • 6 cups water or vegetable broth
  • mineral salt & fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Instructions

Slow Cooker:

  • In 5 – 6 quart crockpot, place ingredients in the bottom starting with the carrots and ending with the liquids.
  • Cook on LOW for 6 – 8 hours, or HIGH for 3 – 5 hours. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Instant Pot:

  • Set Instant Pot to SAUTE and add the 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water, onion, carrot, and celery, saute for 5 minutes, adding the herbs and garlic powder in the last minute (feel free to skip this step entirely adding everything to the pot and cooking).
  • Add quinoa, beans, cabbage, zucchini, tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and vegetable broth, stir to combine.
  • Attach lid and turn to the lock, set the valve to SEALING, and manually set to HIGH pressure for 3 minutes (takes about 25 minutes to come to pressure). Let natural release for 10 minutes. Season to taste.

Stovetop:

  • In a large pot or dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon oil (or 1/4 cup water for water saute), add onions, carrots and celery, saute for 5 minutes.
  • Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, cover, turn heat to low and simmer for 35 minutes – 1 hour. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with your favorite artisan bread. Add diced avocado for another layer of flavor.

Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for 5 – 6 days. To keep longer, store in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months. Let thaw before reheating.

Serves 4 – 6

Notes

For the beans, use your favorite. I just happen to use what I had on hand. I used one can of great northern beans and one can three bean medley which included black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans. I was nice mix.

I use herbes de provence here (it is one of my favorite herb blends). If you don’t have any on hand, a mix of any of the following herbs will work just as well: thyme, rosemary, fennel seeds, basil, savory, and coriander. Use any combo of up to 2 heaping teaspoons. If you have a bay leaf on hand, by all means add one.

Instead of cabbage, sub with 2 – 3 cups of fresh baby spinach or kale. If cooking in the slow cooker add it the last 30 minutes. Stovetop, add at the last 5 – 15 minutes. Instant pot, stir in as soon as you remove the lid.

Updated: Vegetable Quinoa Soup was originally published in February 2017. It has been updated with new photos and helpful tips in April 2020.

FOLLOW TSVonFacebook,Instagram,PinterestorRSSfor more updates and inspiration!

Vegetable Quinoa Soup (Easy + Healthy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

FAQs

What are the healthiest vegetables to put in soup? ›

Veggies That Make Healthy, Tasty Soups
  • Cucumber. 1/14. This nutritious veggie is one of the ingredients in the cold soup called gazpacho. ...
  • Butternut Squash. 2/14. ...
  • Lentils. 3/14. ...
  • Broccoli. 4/14. ...
  • Potatoes. 5/14. ...
  • Mushrooms. 6/14. ...
  • Fresh Spring Peas. 7/14. ...
  • Dried Split Peas. 8/14.

How many calories in a cup of quinoa soup? ›

1 cup of quinoa & vegetable soup, peruvian style (Tasty Kitchen) contains 110 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 90% carbs, 4% fat, and 6% protein.

Is it healthy to eat homemade vegetable soup everyday? ›

For those wanting a more intense regime, a vegetable soup can replace two meals a day for five to seven days without any negative side effects. Although much of the weight loss will be fluid, sometimes all we need to feel leaner and healthier is a flatter stomach and a kilo or two less on the scales.

Is stock or broth better for vegetable soup? ›

As a result, stock is usually a healthier product, delivering a richer mouth feel and deeper flavor than broth. Stock is a versatile culinary tool that can deliver taste to any number of dishes. Darker in color and more concentrated in flavor than broth, it's ideal for use in soups, rice, sauces and more.

Is quinoa too high in calories? ›

Like other ancient grains, quinoa is a tasty and versatile protein source, that tops the list of healthy calorie-dense foods that can make you gain weight if you overdo those grain bowls. In reality, one cup of cooked quinoa has 222 calories, putting it on par with brown rice (which has around 218 calories per cup).

Do you burn more calories eating quinoa? ›

How Quinoa Helps In Weight Loss? Rich dietary fibre and protein increase metabolism, and that makes quinoa good for weight loss. Cooked Quinoa contains five grams of dietary fibre per cup. Eating high fibre foods is often the missing piece when a person is trying to shed weight.

Does quinoa have more calories than rice? ›

White rice and brown rice have fewer calories than quinoa. One cup of white rice has 111 calories, brown rice has 218 calories while quinoa has around 222 calories. But these calorie in quinoa are worth the nutrition it provides.

Are vegetables cooked in soup healthy? ›

Be it the broth or the vegetables itself, soups are prepared in such a way that the nutrition of the ingredients being used remains intact. Since the vegetables are slightly sauteed and not overcooked, the nutritional content of the vegetables remains dissolved in the broth and hence nourishes and supplements the body.

Do vegetables lose nutrients when boiled in soup? ›

Boiled — When cooking vegetables over a long period of time in water, some nutrients will be lost. However, if the water will be consumed with the vegetables — as in the case of soups, stews or curries — many of the vitamins will be retained in the final dish.

What vegetable has no health benefits? ›

Veggie: Celery

In fact, this vegetable doesn't contribute much to your body at all. The long, green stalks lacks many of the nutrients often found in other green vegetables, like vitamins C and A. Your body relies on vitamin C to help grow and repair cells, and vitamin A to promote eye, skin and bone health.

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