Found this great looking recipe from EatingWell.Reference Link:
Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup:
Total Time:
4 hrs 35 mins
Nutrition Notes
Is This Vegetable Soup Good for You?
The vegetables and beans in this soup offer a wealth of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. One 1 1/2-cup serving of this vegetable soup provides almost a day’s worth of vitamin A and about one-third of your vitamin C and fiber for the day. You’ll also get a nice boost of magnesium, potassium, iron, folate and calcium. Altogether, the nutrients in this soup make for a bowl of inflammation-fighting goodness that will also keep you full and satisfied.
Is Pesto Healthy?
Pesto is a delicious combination of several healthy ingredients. While there are variations of it, pesto typically contains olive oil, basil, pine nuts, garlic and Parmesan cheese. If you’re eating vegan or avoid dairy, look for a pesto that is made without cheese. If you follow a vegetarian diet, note that some Parmesan cheeses are not vegetarian since they are made using animal rennet, an enzyme that aids in the production of cheese.
Tips from the Test Kitchen
What Other Types of Vegetables Can I Use in the Soup?
All vegetables work well in vegetable soup. We use onions, carrots, celery, green beans, kale, zucchini, tomatoes and garlic in our version, but there’s room to get creative! Some other veggies that work well in vegetable soup are leeks, fennel, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, peas, corn, spinach and Swiss chard—the list goes on! A good rule of thumb, if you feel experimental, is to pick a few veggies from the allium family (think onions, leeks and garlic) to start building the flavor. Move next to vegetables that add bulk, like carrots, peas and squash, and finally, one or two tender leafy greens that add texture, like spinach or kale.
I Don’t Have a Parmesan Rind. Is There a Substitute?
Parmesan rind is the outer layer that forms on the cheese as it ages. We add a Parmesan rind to give this soup a rich, umami taste. It’s a great hack for building flavor, but if you don’t have one on hand, you can add a dash of soy sauce or tamari, nutritional yeast or extra spices to give the flavor a boost.
Can I Use Other Garnishes for the Soup?
Garnish isn’t just for looks. It can also add flavor and dimension to your vegetable soup. We add pesto as a finishing touch. Other garnishes to try are chopped fresh herbs, flavored oils, a dollop of yogurt, chopped roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes, or a grated hard cheese like Parmesan or Pecorino Romano.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make This Vegetable Soup on the Stovetop?
We cook this vegetable soup in the slow cooker, which works well for busy days. You can assemble your dinner in the morning and have it ready four to six hours later. You can also cook it on the stovetop and have it ready in less time. Check out the stovetop version of this healthy soup.
Can I Make Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup Ahead?
Yes, you can! Prepare the soup through Step 1 and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to five days or portion the soup and freeze for up to six months. Finish Step 2 just before serving.
Additional reporting by Hilary Meyer, Carrie Myers, M.S. and Jan Valdez
Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
12 ounces fresh green beans, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 cups chopped kale
2 medium zucchini, chopped
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15 ounce) cans no-salt-added cannellini or other white beans, rinsed
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or low-sodium vegetable broth
1 Parmesan rind (optional)
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper
2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar
8 teaspoons prepared pesto
Directions
Combine onion, carrots, celery, green beans, kale, zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, white beans, broth, Parmesan rind (if using), salt and pepper in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6 hours.
Remove Parmesan rind, if using. Stir in vinegar and top each serving of soup with 1 teaspoon pesto.
Equipment
6-quart or larger slow cooker
Recipe Updates
Based on earlier reviews and comments on this recipe, we’ve retested and made the following adjustments (and updated the nutritional analysis accordingly):
Added an optional Parmesan rind (to boost flavor).
Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, November 2017
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
174 Calories 4g Fat 26g Carbs 10g Protein
Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe
8Serving Size
1 1/2 cupsCalories
174% Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate
26g10% Dietary Fiber
8g27% Total Sugars
5gProtein
10g21% Total Fat
4g5% Saturated Fat
1g4% Vitamin A
4134IU83% Vitamin C
30mg34% Folate
52mcg13% Sodium
714mg31% Calcium
102mg8% Iron
3mg16% Magnesium
87mg21% Potassium
763mg16% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.
* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.
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Jeannie notes.. Above is curated for evaluation and recommendation from EatingWell
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Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup
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