Creamy Soup Bowl (Printable)
Velvety blend of seasonal vegetables enriched with cream, perfect for a warm, comforting bowl.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
07 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
→ Liquids
08 - 4 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut cream for vegan option)
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley
12 - Croutons or toasted bread slices
# Steps:
01 - Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Add sliced carrots, celery, diced potatoes, and zucchini to the pot. Stir occasionally and cook for 5 minutes.
03 - Pour in vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
04 - Remove pot from heat. Purée soup with an immersion blender, or in batches with a regular blender, until completely smooth.
05 - Return soup to low heat, stir in heavy cream, and season with salt and pepper. Warm gently for 3 to 4 minutes without boiling.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs and croutons or toasted bread if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been tending a pot all day.
- One pot means one cleanup, which might be the most underrated luxury in cooking.
- The cream swirl at the end makes ordinary vegetables feel like a restaurant dish.
02 -
- Never let cream soup boil after you add the dairy, or it will split and separate—a lesson I learned the hard way on a Tuesday night.
- An immersion blender makes this recipe possible for one person; a regular blender requires patience and careful batching, but both create equally smooth results.
03 -
- Make a double batch and freeze half in containers—it reheats beautifully and becomes a moment of rest on busy nights.
- Blend the soup only until you're happy with the texture; some people like it silky smooth, others prefer a bit of subtle vegetable texture underneath.