Southwestern Vegetarian Soup is one of my favorite recipes because it tastes smoky and tex-mexy just like you'd find at your favorite tex-mex joint.

This vegetarian southwest soup is packed full of vegetables, literally a bowl full of vitamins and fiber! 

I made this soup because I was craving southwestern flavors in soup form.

Unfortunately for me, there are very few restaurants in my coastal part of Maine that serve southwestern dishes. But it's okay because I'm a DIY girl. 

If you need something a little bit heartier, you could add a cup of leftover chicken to this veggie soup.

Or, try this Creamy Chicken Hominy Soup, which is a comforting soup with a creamy, cheesy broth.

You might also try a soup with a different flavor profile like Efo Riro, which is a Nigerian spinach stew. Efo Riro also has crayfish, one of my favorites!

Another one of my favorites is the classic Zuppa Toscana.

Why You'll Love This Southwestern Soup

I'm not a vegetarian but the more vegetables I ingest the better I feel and you probably do too. 

Next to a big salad, vegetable soup is a simple way to eat more vegetables.

I made this southwest soup with cumin, smoked paprika, ground ancho chile powder, fresh jalapeno and black beans.

Top with a shower of freshly snipped cilantro leaves and perhaps a cheese quesadilla on the side or maybe crumble tortilla chips on top. Or avocado slices! Don't forget the salt.

This Sweet Potato Soup recipe by Rini at The Healing Tomato is another one in my regular rotation.

Speaking of vegetables, have you been wondering if a produce subscription box is worth it (promo code included)?

How to Make Southwestern Soup!

Soup is a great thing to make when you have vegetables in the crisper that are starting to go by.

Let my recipe be just a suggestion. If you're out of celery, you can leave it out.

If you don't like sweet potato, swap it for carrots.

A rule of thumb is to put in eight cups of whatever chopped vegetables you like. 

If you're busy, there's no shame in tossing a bag of frozen vegetables in the pot. 

I like to make soup at least once a month because if you're anything like me, you're probably throwing away food because it spoils before you eat it.

What to Do for the Carnivores in Your Family?

If someone in the family doesn't think soup is a meal unless it contains meat, throw a cup or two of grilled chicken in the pot or whatever leftover chicken you have.  Or add a cup or two of seasoned ground beef for a taco soup.

But what if I don't like Southwest flavors?

But if you stumbled here through the interwebs looking for a soup recipe and your people don't like southwestern cuisine, Never Fear!

You can easily customize this soup to the flavors you like. 

If Italian is more your preference make these swaps:

• Swap cannellini beans for black beans.
• Use pastini instead of rice.
• Replace the sweet potato with chopped zucchini.
• Add handfuls of kale to the soup before serving.
• Maybe finish with a splash of wine and or balsamic vinegar.
• Shower with shreds of fresh basil instead of cilantro. 

What can I add to vegetable soup for flavor?

If you're homemade vegetable soup tastes bland, there are lots of ways to make it delicious.

1. Garlic, no matter what flavor profile you’re going for, start with garlic when making vegetable soup.
2. Ground spices like smoked or sweet paprika, black or white or red pepper can be added while you're sauteing the vegetables or added while the soup is cooking.
3. Salt, I prefer kosher. If your soup tastes bland, did you remember the salt? I salt at several steps because. Initially, when you're sauteing the aromatics, salt will help soften and make them sweat. You should also salt after adding starches to the pot such as beans or rice or potatoes. You may need to sprinkle a bit more salt over the soup after it's finished. Taste the soup before you serve it.
4. Add a splash of citrus juice such as lemon or lime to each individual portion before serving.
5. Add a quarter or half-cup of white or red wine depending on what type of soup. Either wine works for vegetable soup.
6. Grate a bit of hard rind Parmesan over each portion before serving.
7. Top each bowl of soup with a few teaspoons of pesto or pistou. Do you know the difference between the two? Pistou is just like pesto--basil, hard rind parmesan, garlic, olive oil but no nuts. This French condiment is a great pesto alternative for people with nut allergies. I like it on pizza too.
8. Top with salsa or thin tortilla strips.

Is vegetable soup healthy?

So healthy! Vegetable soup is the healthiest. Thanks to all the vegetables, vegetable soup has vitamins, minerals and fiber. Add a little parmesan on top and it has calcium too.

How do you make soup from scratch?

1. Saute aromatics that you’ve chopped, -garlic, onion, celery
2. Add spices
3. Pour broth in the pot (broth or stock)
4. Add grains such as rice or potatoes and more vegetables
5. Next, bring soup to a boil then turn down the heat. Simmer soup for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally
6. Add meat if you’re going to use any like cooked, shredded chicken or beef and cook for ten more minutes.
7. Ladle into bowls.
8. Top with a garnish or a sprinkle of cheese or pesto or pistou.
9. Serve with crackers, tortillas or crusty bread.

More soup reading:

One of my most popular recipes is this Hoppin' John Soup, which has wretched photos because it's from the early days of my site. But, it's a good soup nonetheless.

Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Soup

Are you more in a fish sandwich mood? I've got just the recipe for you.

Let me know if you try this recipe! 

Your turn:

What's your best vegetable soup recipe?

Southwestern Soup (Vegetarian!)