Warm-Weather Vegetable Soup (Pot-Au-Feu)

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Warm-Weather Vegetable Soup (Pot-Au-Feu) – Brothy soup prepared with onions, garlic, leek, mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots for a robust flavor. Nothing says comfort more than a big bowl of this incredible French soup.

Vegetable Soup Pot au Feu in a Bowl

Hearty, savory, delicious Vegetable Soup chock full of nourishing veggies that’s quick to make with very little effort. AND, it is a million times better than what you’ll get in a can! 

Potaufeu, or pot on the fire, is one of France’s most famous classic dishes. It features different beef cuts and vegetables, simmering in a flavorful broth until tender. It’s what we United Statesian would call, “clean out the fridge soup”. I think!? 

Sure, pot-au-feu can be made with other meats like chicken or pork, but there’s no real rule about it, which is why our recipe features vegetables, only. With a bright boiled (or poached) egg on top. 

Who needs meat when you can enjoy a huge bowl of this soup packed with all the vegetables sitting inside that veggie tray in the fridge.

Potatoes and Carrots in Dutch Oven

VEGETABLE SOUP

This is a healthy Vegetable Soup and it’s versatile to suit your taste. Perfect for those following a low calorie diet, but ideal for everyone that wants a delicious healthy dish for lunch or dinner. 

You can serve it as a main for a light meal, or you can serve it alongside your favorite protein, like grilled lemon chicken or baked salmon

HOW TO MAKE A VEGETABLE SOUP

A simple Veggie Soup is a family favorite, and it is just a whole lot of vegetables – potatoes, spinach, leek, onions, carrots, asparagus, mushrooms – cooked in vegetable broth. 

  • We first combine potatoes, carrots, onions, and leek, and sauté until tender.
  • Add in some garlic, lemon zest, and lemongrass. If you don’t have lemongrass, just use around 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. 
  • Pour in the broth; bring to a boil, lower heat and let simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until the veggies are just tender. 
  • Stir in the asparagus and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Mix in the spinach and continue to cook for 1 minute, or until spinach is wilted. 
  • Taste soup for seasonings and adjust accordingly. 
  • Serve.

Vegetable Soup in a Pot

HOW TO STORE VEGGIE SOUPS

Store completely cooled Vegetable Soup in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. 

HOW TO FREEZE VEGGIE SOUPS

Store completely cooled Vegetable Soup in freezer bags or in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Vegetable Soup French Pot au Feu

MORE SOUP RECIPES

ENJOY!

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5 from 6 votes

Warm Weather Vegetable Soup

Hearty, savory, delicious Vegetable Soup chock full of nourishing veggies that’s quick to make with very little effort.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6 serves

Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion,, sliced
  • 1 leek,, white and light green parts only, quartered lengthwise and rinsed
  • 6 small new potatoes,, scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
  • 4 carrots,, trimmed, peeled, and cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch thick slices
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic, , minced
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 piece lemongrass,, split lengthwise (2-inch long piece), if you don't have lempongrass, use 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 8 asparagus spears,, trimmed
  • 4 large shiitake mushrooms,, stemmed, cleaned, and sliced
  • 10 ounces baby spinach
  • 4 to 6 eggs,, poached or hard-boiled (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, oregano, rosemary, etc...)
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Instructions 

  • Warm the olive oil over medium-low heat in a dutch oven.
  • Add in the onions, leek, potatoes and carrots; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring gently, for 5 minutes, or until veggies begin to soften a bit.
  • Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Mix in the broth.
  • Toss in zest and lemongrass.
  • Increase heat and bring soup to a boil, then lower heat and simmer gently, uncovered, until the vegetables are just short of tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  • With the soup at a gentle simmer, drop in the asparagus and mushrooms; cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add spinach over the vegetables and cook another 2 minutes, just until slightly wilted.
  • While the vegetables are simmering, slip the eggs into a pot of simmering water and boil to desired doneness.
  • Taste finished soup for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
  • Ladle the vegetables and broth into shallow soup plates, scatter with chopped fresh herbs, and finish each with a poached or boiled egg on top; serve immediately.

Notes

HOW TO STORE VEGGIE SOUPS
Store completely cooled Vegetable Soup in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. 
 
HOW TO FREEZE VEGGIE SOUPS
Store completely cooled Vegetable Soup in freezer bags or in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 597mg | Potassium: 1430mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 11970IU | Vitamin C: 35.6mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 4.5mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

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Recipe originally published on June 3, 2011. Updated on April 24, 2019.

5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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52 Comments

  1. Toni | Boulder Locavore says:

    I’d love to give this a try! Looks so comforting!

  2. Sara Welch says:

    I always find the greatest dishes on your blog; this was amazing and my whole family loved it!

  3. Beth Pierce says:

    What an awesome recipe for vegetable soup! Love your added touch with the hard boiled egg; yum!

  4. Paula says:

    This looks perfect! Love Love Love it.

  5. Vik says:

    Had this for dinner and it is incredibly delicious! Will be making again

  6. Bee says:

    This looks like a hearty and warming soup!

  7. Chrissie Baker says:

    This vegetable soup looks so cozy and delicious! Such a delicious dinner for a cold night!

  8. Shilpa says:

    I love a clear vegetable soup but have not yet come across a good recipe for one…yours looks totally divine….

    -Shilpa

  9. Manu says:

    Ohhh I would have used the bread too! That looks too delicious!!! And healthy… who can ask for more???