Winter vegetable soup loaded with great seasonal root vegetables, cannellini beans, and pasta in a tomato and mushroom ketchup laced broth.
This vegetarian/vegan soup takes around 90 minutes to prepare and cook, but it is very easy and you spend very little time in the kitchen.
Chunky Vegetable Soup
I love soup, I have dozens here on my website ranging from the gloriously old-fashioned British recipes like cock a leekie soup and Scotch broth to international offerings like my miso noodle soup and a Hungarian Lamb goulash (gulyas).
This delicious winter warming chunky vegetable soup is a celebration of winter root veggies.
Swede, carrot, onions, parsnip and potatoes are the stars of this delicious bowl of comfort food.
Beans and pasta add even more body to this recipe and it is completed by a simple tomato broth and a splash of mushroom ketchup.
Whilst this may take a fairly long time to cook, you spend very little time actively cooking. It is very much a low-maintenance recipe that you can let bubble on the hob for an hour or so whilst you go about your day.
This is very much a “sister recipe” to my summer vegetable soup!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different vegetables?
Yes, you can throw in any type of vegetable you like in this recipe.
I occasionally add added pumpkin, sweet potato, celeriac or turnip in the past.
You can also add quicker cooking vegetables like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower or peas, but these will only need a few minutes of cooking time. They will not reheat quite as well as the root vegetables though.
What sort of pasta should I use?
Any small “soup” pasta works perfectly, here I have used ditalini, the same sort of pasta that I use in my pasta e piselli recipe.
I’ve even added broken-up angel hair spaghetti to this recipe if I don’t have any small pasta in the cupboard.
How long will this store?
This will be fine in the fridge for 4-5 days, although you may need to add more stock or water when you reheat it.
Is this Vegan?
It depends on the pasta you use, but good quality vegan pasta is readily available and instantly transforms this into a delicious vegan soup.
What is mushroom ketchup?
Mushroom ketchup is a wonderful old-school British condiment similar to Worcestershire sauce and Henderson’s relish.
They all taste slightly different but you can use any of the other two if you want. Naturally Worcestershire sauce is not vegetarian, but Henderson’s relish, like mushroom ketchup, are both vegan and vegetarian.
Serving Suggestions
This winter vegetable soup needs nothing else, the pasta and beans make it hearty enough!
My wife disagrees, apparently what’s the point of soup if you can’t have bread?
This recipe is particularly good with soda bread, although I usually opt for something that I have picked up at the supermarket.
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think they make a material difference to a recipe. But, if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Hob/stovetop.
- 20cm or 8″ saucepan.
- Stirring and serving spoons.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen knife.
- Vegetable peeler.
- Sieve or colander.
- A combination of weighing scales, a measuring jug, cups and spoons.
Winter Vegetable Soup Step-by-Step Photos
- Heat a saucepan over a low heat add the oil then add the celery, onions and carrots, cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Throw in the parsnip, potato, swede, black pepper, bay leaves and sprigs of thyme.
- Pour in the mushroom ketchup and give it all a good stir.
- Add the passata and vegetable stock, then mix well, and simmer for 45-50 minutes.
- Once the vegetables are tender add the beans and pasta, stir and cook for 7-8 minutes.
- Once the beans are hot and the pasta is cooked serve immediately with fresh parsley.

Winter Root Vegetable Soup Recipe
This simple and hearty vegan winter vegetable soup is the perfect pick-me-up on a cold and frosty day, it is a slowly cooked dish, but it is very easy to make and it's packed with winter root veggies, tinned cannellini beans and pasta.
Ingredients
- 1 Large (250g) Onion
- 2 (125g total) Celery Sticks
- 1 Medium-Large (150g) Carrot
- 3 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- ½ Tsp Salt (Plus Extra if Required)
- 1 Large (200g) Parsnip
- 1 Medium (200g) Potato
- 1 Small (300g) Swede
- 50ml (3 Tbsp) Mushroom Ketchup
- 500g (2¼ Cups) Tomato Passata
- 500ml (2 Cups) Vegetable Stock
- 2 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 2 Bay Leaves
- ½ Tsp Black Pepper
- 400g (14oz) Tin Cannellini Beans
- 75g (½ Cup) Small Pasta Shapes
Instructions
- Cut the onion in half, peel it and then cut it into a 5-6mm (¼") dice.
- Chop the celery sticks into a 5-6mm (¼") dice.
- Peel and cut the carrot into a 5-6mm (¼") dice.
- Heat a 20cm or 8" saucepan over a low heat, add the oil followed by the diced onion, celery, carrot and salt. Sweat these vegetables down over a low heat, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
- Peel the swede and cut it into a 1cm (just under ½") dice.
- Cut the parsnips into a 1cm (just under ½") dice.
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into a 1cm (just under ½") dice.
- Once the onion mix has had 10 minutes, add the diced parsnip, potato, swede, black pepper, bay leaves and sprigs of thyme, then pour in the mushroom ketchup, and give everything a stir.
- Pour in the passata and vegetable stock, give everything a stir and have a taste, add more salt if required, then simmer gently for 45-50 minutes, or until the root vegetables are soft and cooked through.
- Drain the beans into a colander and rinse them under cold water to wash off the canning liquid.
- Add the beans and pasta to the soup and cook for a final 7-8 minutes or until the pasta is al dente and the beans are hot.
If you like visual guides when you are cooking, I have step-by-step process photos just above this recipe and a video just below the recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 330Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 511mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 11gSugar: 11gProtein: 12g
Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.
Ramona
Wednesday 7th of March 2018
I would love to hug a soup bowl like this right now, it looks so tasty, hearty and satisfying - my exact kinda soup. It looks amazing I love beans and pasta in one bowl with taht load of vegg - food heaven ! ;-)
Brian Jones
Thursday 8th of March 2018
Thanks Ramona!
Melve
Wednesday 7th of March 2018
A beautiful bowls with a delicious soup. Perfect for the cold days. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Brian Jones
Thursday 8th of March 2018
Thank you :)
Jacqueline Debono
Wednesday 7th of March 2018
I adore minestrone, especially with pasta in it. This looks superb and so warming and healthy! Love the bowls too!
Brian Jones
Thursday 8th of March 2018
Thanks Jacqueline!
Mary (The Godmother @ Goodie Godmother)
Saturday 12th of March 2016
What a beautiful soup, and served in such darling bowls! I never took you to be the type to own "trendy plates". haha
Mary (The Godmother @ Goodie Godmother)
Saturday 12th of March 2016
What a beautiful soup, and served in such darling bowls! I never took you to be the "trendy plate" type.
Brian Jones
Monday 14th of March 2016
Woooooooohoooooooo, I'm trendy, it's official it is on the interweb and everything... Nearly 42 years and I have finally made it. Is now a good time to say my wife spotted them and bought them :o