There’s something deeply comforting about a warm bowl filled with roasted, caramelized flavors and a touch of cheesy goodness. That’s exactly what I love about this Roasted Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Recipe—it’s cozy, rich, and surprisingly simple to make at home.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I can’t say enough about how satisfying this soup is, especially after roasting the veggies to deepen their natural sweetness. It’s one of those recipes where the more you make it, the more you want to experiment and make it your own.
- Rich Roasted Flavor: Roasting the sweet potatoes, peppers, and carrots brings out an irresistible caramelized taste you can't get from boiling alone.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses everyday vegetables and pantry staples, making it easy to whip up with what's on hand.
- Creamy Parmesan Finish: The cheese adds a velvety texture that lifts the soup beyond an average veggie bowl.
- Versatile and Customizable: You can tweak the spices or add herbs to suit your taste—making it a flexible favorite year-round.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient plays a role in creating a soup that’s both hearty and flavor-packed. The mix of sweet, earthy, and aromatic vegetables with warming spices makes this soup comforting and interesting. Here’s why I pick these particular items for the best result.
- Sweet Potato: Adds natural sweetness and creaminess when roasted—plus, it's packed with nutrients.
- Red & Yellow Bell Peppers: Bring vibrant color and a slightly smoky sweetness after roasting.
- Carrots: Offer earthy depth and texture that blend beautifully in the soup.
- Garlic: Roasted with the skins on so it mellows perfectly and infuses a subtle sweetness.
- Olive Oil: Helps carry all those spices and aids in caramelization during roasting.
- Salt & Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing the natural flavors.
- Cumin & Paprika: Give gentle warmth and a hint of smokiness that rounds out the soup.
- Red Onion: Adds sharpness and softens after roasting, complementing the other vegetables.
- Vegetable Stock: Creates the soup base—make sure it’s flavorful and preferably gluten-free if needed.
- Parmesan: The star finish—melts into the soup for richness and a cheesy kick.
- Fresh Thyme: A simple herb garnish that adds freshness and an aromatic touch.
Make It Your Way
One of the joys of this Roasted Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Recipe is making it your own. I often switch up the veggies depending on the season or what’s sitting in my crisper drawer. Don’t be afraid to experiment—you might end up loving your own twist just as much!
- Variation: I sometimes add a roasted butternut squash or a few cherry tomatoes to boost sweetness—both work wonderfully and add extra layers of flavor.
- Dairy-Free Version: Try swapping parmesan for nutritional yeast to keep the cheesy vibe but without dairy.
- Herb Boost: Toss in a handful of fresh basil or parsley at the end for a fresh, bright note.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Roasted Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Roast the Veggies
First, I preheat my oven to 200°C (or 400°F if you’re using a fan oven). While it heats up, I peel and chop the sweet potato, deseed and chop the bell peppers, peel the carrots, and leave the garlic cloves whole with their skins on—that helps keep the garlic silky and mellow when roasted. Lay everything out on a large baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle on salt, pepper, cumin, and paprika. Then I toss it all gently with my hands to coat every piece.
Step 2: Roast and Add Onions
Pop the tray in the oven for 20 minutes, but after the first 10, I use tongs or a spatula to flip everything so it roasts evenly. After 20 minutes, I add the red onion wedges and toss them with the roasted veggies and their juices to coat in all that flavorful oil. Then back into the oven for another 10-12 minutes until the vegetables turn tender and develop those beautiful golden edges.
Step 3: Blend and Finish
Once roasted, I reserve a couple of tablespoons of the veggies for garnish—those little caramelized bites seriously take the soup up a notch. The rest go into a large pot, where I squeeze out the soft roasted garlic from its skin. I pour in my vegetable stock, bring it all to a boil, then simmer for five minutes to marry the flavors.
Then comes my favorite part: blending! I grab my hand blender and blitz the soup until it’s smooth and creamy. Stir in the grated parmesan—this gives the soup that lush, cheesy finish no one expects from a vegetable soup. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, then serve hot, topped with the reserved roasted veggies, extra parmesan, and a few fresh thyme sprigs.
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to make this soup really shine—paying attention to the roasting and seasoning can totally transform the flavor. Here’s what I keep in mind every time:
- Even Roasting: Make sure your vegetables are cut into similar-sized chunks so everything cooks uniformly.
- Don’t Skip Tossing: Flipping the veggies halfway through roasting ensures they caramelize on all sides, which deepens their flavor.
- Garlic in Skin: Roasting garlic whole with the skin on makes it sweet and soft—not bitter like raw garlic—and it blends effortlessly.
- Parmesan Timing: Stir parmesan in at the end, off heat, to preserve its delicate texture and avoid clumping.
How to Serve Roasted Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Recipe
Garnishes
For me, the garnishes really elevate this soup. I always use a sprinkle of extra grated parmesan and a few fresh thyme sprigs for that subtle herbal brightness. Sometimes, I add a drizzle of good-quality olive oil or a spoonful of crème fraîche if I'm feeling indulgent. Crispy croutons or toasted pumpkin seeds also add a lovely crunch.
Side Dishes
Pair this soup with some crusty bread—like a fresh baguette or homemade garlic bread—to soak up every drop. A simple green salad with a lemony vinaigrette balances the richness perfectly, especially if you want to keep things light but satisfying.
Creative Ways to Present
For a cozy dinner party, I like to serve the soup in small, rustic bowls with the reserved roasted veggies artfully arranged on top. Adding a sprig of thyme and a parmesan crisp on the side makes it feel special without extra fuss. On chilly evenings, a bread bowl filled with this soup is a delightful surprise that guests absolutely love.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Before storing, I make sure the soup cools to room temperature to prevent condensation from making it watery. When reheating, just give it a good stir to bring back that creamy texture.
Freezing
This soup freezes beautifully. I portion it into freezer-safe containers and leave some space at the top because it expands a little. When I’m ready, I thaw it overnight in the fridge, then gently reheat on the stove, stirring occasionally to recombine any separation.
Reheating
Reheat over low to medium heat on the stove to avoid breaking the smooth texture. If it seems too thick, I add a splash of vegetable stock or water to loosen it up. A quick splash of olive oil or an extra sprinkle of parmesan right before serving works wonders to refresh the flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! This Roasted Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Recipe is very adaptable. You can swap in butternut squash, zucchini, or even cauliflower—just adjust roasting times as needed since some vegetables cook faster or slower.
To make it vegan, simply skip the parmesan or replace it with nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without dairy. Use vegetable stock that’s labeled vegan, and you’ve got a delicious plant-based version!
Yes, you can prepare the roasted vegetables a day in advance and store them in the fridge. When ready to serve, gently reheat them with the stock and blend. This can save you time on busy days without compromising flavor.
I like to use a good-quality, aged Parmesan like Parmigiano-Reggiano because it melts beautifully and has a rich, nutty flavor that enhances the soup perfectly. Avoid pre-grated powdered cheese for best results.
Final Thoughts
This Roasted Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Recipe is one of those dishes I keep coming back to because it’s simple to prepare yet so full of comforting, layered flavors. It’s perfect for chilly nights or when you want something wholesome that feels special without hours in the kitchen. I hope you enjoy making it just as much as I do—it’s a little bowl of happy comfort food, plain and simple.
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Roasted Vegetable Soup with Parmesan Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A comforting and flavorful roasted vegetable soup made with sweet potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and garlic, enhanced with aromatic spices and finished with creamy parmesan cheese and fresh thyme.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped into chunks
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped into chunks
- 1 yellow bell pepper, deseeded and chopped into chunks
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, left in the skin
- 1 red onion, peeled and chopped into wedges
Seasonings and Other
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 litre (4 ¼ cups) vegetable stock (use vegetable bouillon for gluten-free)
- 35 g (⅓ cup) grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese (for garnish)
- A few sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 200C/400F (fan assisted) to prepare for roasting the vegetables.
- Prepare vegetables for roasting: Place the chopped sweet potato, red and yellow bell peppers, carrots, and garlic cloves with skin on a large baking tray.
- Season vegetables: Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables, then sprinkle salt, black pepper, cumin, and paprika. Toss everything together thoroughly using your hands to coat evenly.
- Roast first stage: Roast the vegetables in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then turn everything over to ensure even cooking. Continue roasting for another 10 minutes.
- Add onion and continue roasting: Remove the tray, add the red onion wedges, toss everything again to coat with oil, then return to the oven for an additional 10-12 minutes until all vegetables are tender and caramelized.
- Set aside some vegetables: Remove the tray from the oven and set aside a couple of tablespoons of the roasted vegetables for garnishing later.
- Cook soup base: Transfer the remaining roasted vegetables to a large saucepan. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of its skins into the pan.
- Add stock and simmer: Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for five minutes to allow flavors to combine.
- Blend soup: Turn off the heat and use a hand blender to blend the soup until smooth and creamy.
- Add cheese and season: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with reserved roasted vegetables, an extra sprinkling of parmesan cheese, and fresh thyme sprigs for garnish.
Notes
- Roasting vegetables until golden enhances their natural sweetness and adds depth of flavor to the soup.
- Leaving garlic cloves in their skin while roasting softens their flavor and makes peeling easier.
- Use vegetable bouillon or a gluten-free stock to keep the soup gluten-free.
- Parmesan adds creaminess; omit or substitute with a vegan cheese alternative to make the soup vegan.
- Serve with crusty bread or a side salad for a full meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 228 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1505 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 9 mg
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