Healthy Winter Dinner: Tuscan Vegetable Soup

By: Cameron Curtis
Tuscan Vegetable Soup

When the thermometer drops below 20 degrees, it's time to break out the Dutch Oven and make soup for dinner. Since I'm on my January healthy kick, Ellie Krieger's Tuscan Vegetable Soup recipe was a great option fill up with hearty vegetables instead of empty calories.

Cooking Onions

Since I'm not a huge fan of onions I decided to caramelize them a bit before adding in the rest of the vegetables.

Cooking Vegetables

While the recipe calls for zucchini, it's prime season is during the summer months, so I used green squash with my carrots and celery instead.

Cooking Vegetables

While the vegetables, garlic, thyme and sage cooked, it smelled like the holidays all over again (think: stuffing).

Add broth

I added the vegetable broth and canned diced tomatoes and then stirred in dried cannelini beans instead of the canned variety. Canned beans are definitely quicker but I had time before putting dinner on the table so I used the dried variety to cut down on my sodium intake. If you're going to go this route, the soup will need to simmer for at least 1-2 hours while the beans cook.

Add spinach

Right before I was ready to eat (and salivating from the amazing aroma) I added chopped fresh spinach. It only needs a few minutes to cook.

Final soup in pot

Once all the vegetables and beans are cooked, you might want to add a bit more broth depending on how thick you want your soup.

Final Soup

Top with Parmesan for a taste that feels like you ordered from a classic Italian restaurant.

Get the recipe: Tuscan Vegetable Soup
More Dinner Ideas:
Drop 5 Lbs. with Cooking Channel:
Eat a Better Breakfast

Next Up

How to Throw a Coffee-themed Dinner Party

Seeing as how coffee is the life force that gets you through your day, may we suggest it as the main ingredient in your next potluck?

Dinner Rush! Crispy Tuscan Cutlets

Discover the secret breading technique that will guarantee the utmore crispiness for this easy Tuscan Pork Cutlet recipe or other breaded dishes.

Restorative Winter-Warming Soups and Stews

The bitterly cold month of January is optimal for enjoying vegetable-laden, creamy-pureed or hearty meat soups.

Sifted: Winter Comfort Foods, Healthy Weeknight Recipes + More

Get our take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including winter comfort foods and healthy recipes.

Dinner Rush! Grilled Garden Vegetable Pizza

Cooking Channel's healthy grilled veggie pizza recipe is quick, easy and a great way not to use your hot oven in the summer.

Meatless Monday: Rustic Fall Vegetable Soup

When it comes to homemade vs store-bought, homemade is always better. The questions is if it’s worth the time and effort. When it comes to soup, the answer is yes.

Dinner Rush! Curry-Spiced Minestrone Soup

Get the recipe for a satisfying Italian Minestrone kicked up with curry’s spicy undertones of cumin, clove and mace.

Dinner Rush! Carrot-Ginger Wonton Soup

This is a delicious meal for those ailing and healthy alike that’s done before the delivery man could even make it to your door.

Meatless Monday: Creamy Corn and Vegetable Soup

It’s prime time to be eating corn right now. Crunchy, sweet and affordable, I can’t get enough. Of course it’s great grilled, straight off the cob, but it’s really lovely in a creamy vegetable soup.

On TV

So Much Pretty Food Here