This thick and creamy soup reminds me a bit of potpie filling, but in soup form. The small ditalini pasta are the same size as the diced vegetables, making it easy for kids to scoop up a bit of everything in one bite. Made with no cream, not even homemade cashew cream, you won’t believe how creamy it is. You’ll be heading back for seconds in no time!Vegan with gluten- and nut-free options.Reprinted with permission from author Jenn Sebestyen and Fair Winds Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.
2tablespoonsolive oil - See Notes for oil-free option.
1yellow onion, diced
3carrots, peeled and diced
2ribscelery, diced
1red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1tablespoondried parsley
1teaspoondried basil
1teaspoondried thyme
½teaspoondried dill
1¼teaspoonsfine sea salt, or to taste
¼cupall-purpose flour (I used white whole-wheat for a whole-grain option) - For gluten-free option, use brown rice flour.
2cupsunsweetened and unflavored non-dairy milk, divided - I used soy milk.
4cupslow-sodium vegetable broth
2tablespoonsnutritional yeast, optional
1cupdry ditalini pasta or similar small pasta - gluten-free or whole-wheat, if desired
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the carrots, celery, and bell pepper and sauté 4 to 5 minutes until starting to soften.
Add the parsley, basil, thyme, dill, salt, and flour and stir to combine, scraping up any bits of flour on the bottom of the pot. Slowly pour in ½ cup (120 ml) of milk while whisking continuously, again scraping up any bits of flour on the bottom; a flat whisk is convenient here, but a balloon whisk will work as well. Whisk until the flour is completely incorporated.
Add the remainder of the milk, vegetable broth, and nutritional yeast, if using. Whisk to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta, and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the pasta is cooked through, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
Notes
For a gluten-free option, use brown rice flour instead of all-purpose flour.For WFPB/oil-free diets, replace the oil with a few Tbsp of broth while sautéing, and use white whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose and your whole-grain pasta of choice.For nut-free soup, simply use your favorite nut-free milk. Store leftover soup in the refrigerator for up to four days.Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook so that I could write this review. The thoughts & opinions are 100% my own.