In the depths of winter, all I want is foods that are hearty and warming. Soups, stews, chilis – I love them all. Of course, at a time of year when the stores aren’t exactly bursting with seasonal produce of every variety, it is important to focus on foods that are comforting but also nourishing. A recent craving for vegetable soup brought to my attention that I did not have a reliable go-to veggie soup recipe. I have tried many recipes in the past but none of them really stuck. Clearly that needed to be addressed.
Gathering inspiration from my crisper drawer and my desire to enjoy garlicky bread in as many ways as possible, this vegetable soup with garlicky croutons was born. I prefer soups with are heavy on substance and not too much liquid, so I added a hefty dose of veggies to the pot. The soup is great all on its own, but the croutons just take it over the top. I’m very glad to have another excellent soup recipe in my repertoire. After all, there is still plenty of winter to be got through.