Hearty Vegetable Soup with Couscous

We use a rainbow of heart heathy veggies and a boost of protein using white beans and couscous. Hearty Vegetable Soup with Couscous is delicious and satisfying. A truly filling and warming meal.

Vegetable soup is another favorite meal I grew up eating. My mom would pull out her huge stock pot and chop veggies until you basically couldn’t see counter top. The pot was filled to the brim with colorful veggies and the most delicious tomato broth. It was so simple, and the whole family (including my 3 hungry brothers) loved it!

My Hearty Vegetable Soup is slightly elevated using creamy white beans and couscous. This adds a boost of protein, fiber, and texture. If you have a meat-eater in the family like I do (A-hem, my husband) they’ll appreciate the additional heartiness.

Vegetable Soup Is Quick and Easy:

Not only is this soup delicious and comforting, it’s also quick and easy. It might seem a little daunting at the thought of chopping all those vegetables. However, when you’re just using a little bit of everything the preparation goes quickly.

Ingredients For Hearty Vegetable Soup With Couscous:

• Olive oil
• Israeli couscous
• Chicken or vegetable stock
• Onion
• Garlic clove
• Carrots
• Celery
• Green cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Zucchini
• Fresh green beans
• Kale or spinach
• Canned crushed tomatoes
• Northern white beans
• Italian seasoning
• Bay leaf
• Salt and pepper
• Red pepper flakes

This soup is also a great recipe when you need to use up veggies that might be at the tail end of their freshness. It always grieves me to throw out produce, especially since it’s so expensive these days. Why not make a delicious and healthy soup!

Additional Veggies You Might Like:

Use veggies you love and take out the ones you don’t! I find the more texture, the better! Some of my favorites are carrots, zucchini, fresh green beans, and cauliflower. I love adding kale or spinach, depending on what I have on hand. I think the options are endless when it comes to what veggies will work in this soup. Here are other favorites you might enjoy.

• Asparagus
• Mushrooms
• Broccoli
• Parsnips
• Sweet potatoes
• Bell peppers
• Winter squash

Israeli Couscous vs Moroccan Couscous:

Both Israeli and Moroccan couscous are made with semolina flour and water which makes them a pasta. The difference between the two is in size and texture. Israeli couscous is shaped like a pearl, while Moroccan is small like a grain.

How To Make Hearty Vegetable Soup with Couscous:

Step 1. Cook the couscous according to manufactures instructions. Set aside until ready to use.

Step 2. In a large soup pot on medium heat add olive oil, chopped onion, and sliced carrots. Sauté for 5-minutes. Add chopped celery, minced garlic, fresh cut green beans, and cauliflower florets. Cook another 5-minutes.

Step 3. Stir in sliced zucchini, chopped cabbage, spices, crushed tomatoes, white beans, chicken or vegetable stock, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-minutes stirring occasionally.

Step 5. Once veggies are tender, add chopped kale or spinach, and cooked couscous. Cook another 2-3 minutes just until kale or spinach is wilted.

Storing and Freezing:

This soup will last 5-6 days in a sealed container in the fridge. When freezing, make sure soup is completely cooled. I like to add single portions to freezer safe containers or jars. Soup will keep in the freezer for up to 6-months or more!

Pro Tips:

• Prep ingredients and couscous before you begin cooking. Vegetable Soup comes together really quickly once the cooking process begins. It is helpful to have all the veggies chopped and ready to go, along with the cooked couscous.
• Use Chicken or Vegetable stock instead of water when cooking the couscous. This will infuse flavor into the couscous making the soup that much better.
• Add meat for extra protein and flavor. This soup is great with diced ham, shredded chicken, or ground turkey.

Other Soups You Might Enjoy:

• Minestrone Soup
• Pot Roast Stew with Barley
• Ham and Bean Soup
• Autumn Chicken Soup with Orzo

Rate The Recipe⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I appreciate your comments and reviews! Be sure to leave a comment or rating below for suggestions, questions, or if you make the recipe. I’d love to know how it turned out for you!

Let’s eat!🤍

Hearty Vegetable Soup with Couscous

We use a rainbow of heart heathy veggies and a boost of protein using white beans and couscous. Hearty Vegetable Soup with Couscous is delicious and satisfying. A truly filling and warming meal.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 459kcal

Ingredients

For the couscous:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3/4 cup Israeli couscous
• 3 cups water, chicken, or vegetable stock

Remaining ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced thin
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in 2-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 cups cauliflower, cut in small florets
• 1 small zucchini, cut in half moon slices
• 2 cups chopped green cabbage
• 1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 (15 oz) can northern white beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups chopped kale or baby spinach
• grated parmesan cheese for topping optional

Seasonings:

• 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• pinch red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

Cook couscous

• Heat a small pot over medium heat and add olive oil and couscous. Sauté 5-minutes or until golden brown in spots. Add liquid and bring to a simmer. Cook 7-9 minutes or until couscous is tender. Drain excess liquid and set aside until ready to use.

Prepare the soup

• In a large pot or Dutch oven add olive oil, chopped onion, and sliced carrots. Sauté for 5-minutes over medium heat.
• Add chopped celery, minced garlic, fresh cut green beans, and cauliflower florets. Cook another 5-minutes.
• Stir in sliced zucchini, chopped cabbage, seasonings, crushed tomatoes, white beans, chicken or vegetable stock, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and cook 15-minutes stirring occasionally.
• Once veggies are tender, add chopped kale or spinach, and cooked couscous. Cook another 2-3 minutes just until kale or spinach is wilted.
• Serve with grated parmesan cheese if desired and enjoy!

Notes

Tips:

• • Prep ingredients and couscous before you begin cooking. Vegetable Soup comes together really quickly once the cooking process begins. It’s helpful to have all the veggies chopped and ready to go, along with the cooked couscous.

• • Use Chicken or Vegetable stock instead of water when cooking the couscous. This will infuse flavor into the couscous making the soup that much better.
  • Other veggies you might like. Just about any kind of veggie can be used in vegetable soup. Use what you love or have on hand. Here are additional veggies that can be used.
  • Asparagus
  • Mushrooms
  • Broccoli
  • Parsnips
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Bell peppers
  • Winter squash

• • Add meat for extra protein and flavor. This soup is great with diced ham, shredded chicken, or ground turkey.
  • Storing and freezing. Place cooled soup in a sealed airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days. When freezing, make sure soup is completely cooled. I like to add single portions to freezer safe containers or jars. Soup will keep in the freezer for up to 6-months or more!

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories	459
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10.1g	13%
Saturated Fat 1.6g	8%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1438mg	63%
Total Carbohydrate 73.3g	27%
Dietary Fiber 16.5g	59%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 22.5g
Vitamin D 0mcg	0%
Calcium 257mg	20%
Iron 9mg	47%
Potassium 1482mg	32%

Nutrition

Calories: 459kcal

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