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Grandmother’s Vegetable Soup Recipe with Parmesan Croutons
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## 🧾 Ingredients
### For the Vegetable Soup:
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 carrots, diced
* 2 celery stalks, diced
* 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
* 1 zucchini, chopped
* 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut
* 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
* 6 cups vegetable broth
* 1 tsp dried thyme
* 1 tsp dried oregano
* Salt & pepper to taste
* 1 cup frozen peas or corn (added at the end)
* Handful of fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
### For the Parmesan Croutons:
* 2 cups crusty bread, cubed
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* ½ tsp garlic powder
* ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
* Pinch of salt
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## 👩🍳 How to Make It
### Step 1: Sauté the aromatics
Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté over medium heat until softened and fragrant, about 5–7 minutes.
### Step 2: Add the rest of the vegetables
Stir in potatoes, zucchini, green beans, and diced tomatoes (with juices). Pour in the vegetable broth. Season with thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
### Step 3: Simmer
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
### Step 4: Stir in the peas (or corn)
Add frozen peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
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### While the soup simmers… make the croutons!
### Step 5: Bake the croutons
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes. Remove, sprinkle with Parmesan, and bake for 2–3 more minutes until golden and crispy.
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## 🍽️ To Serve
Ladle hot soup into bowls, top with a handful of **warm Parmesan croutons**, and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve with a slice of rustic bread for extra comfort.
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## 💡 Tips & Variations
* Add beans or lentils for extra protein and heartiness.
* Throw in a parmesan rind during simmering for deeper flavor (remove before serving).
* Use gluten-free bread for croutons if needed.
* Make a double batch and freeze leftovers for later!
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## 🧡 A Taste of Home
This recipe is more than just a meal—it’s a memory. **Every spoonful tastes like warmth, tradition, and love**, just like grandmother used to make. It’s the perfect dish to bring to the table on chilly nights, sick days, or whenever your soul needs soothing.
So grab your biggest pot, your coziest sweater, and bring a little bit of Grandma’s kitchen into your home.
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Would you like a printable recipe card or a short video script for this? I can help with that too!
