Deeply flavorful, warmly spiced, this warming and oh-so-healthy soup will be a new favorite. Moroccan Vegetable Soup is a perfect bowl of comfort!
Might as well get right to it, I can’t help myself, this dish is so good! – I’m here to talk about soup. Not the kind that comes in a red-and-white can, although there’s a time and place for that, on occasion. I’ve heard anyway. This Moroccan Vegetable soup is in a completely different league from that can, in every way possible. It is a full-on, completely satisfying meal in a bowl. It has everything you want, and much, much more. Hearty vegetables like squash, bell peppers, sweet potatoes. Some protein in the form of chickpeas. Abundant Moroccan spices – cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, garlic – all provide lovely flavor and aroma. A touch of sweet. A touch of heat. This is my new favorite bowl of goodness! Did I mention it’s Vegan?
I got this recipe from Brianne Ryan at Queen Anne Coffee Company in Seattle. My friend Joyce and I had been positively bowled over (?see what I did there?) by this soup a couple weeks ago, and Joyce, who is a bit more assertive than I (lesson for me!), asked Bri for the recipe and she was happy to share. For the sake of home cooks, I’ve cut the recipe (below) in half. Happily, I made the whole recipe, which makes about 8 quarts of delicious soup. If your pot is big enough, you won’t be sorry. The original recipe calls for an Acorn Squash and a Delicata. Feel free to get small ones or use half Acorn/half Delicata.
For me, one of the thrills of making this soup was using fresh Turmeric. If you’re not familiar with turmeric, a spice often used in curries, it’s kind of the current “darling” of the spice world. This is because one of its ingredients, circumin, is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The fresh version of turmeric looks like ginger, as it is also a “rhizome”, but is a brilliant orange inside. (If you’re curious, a rhizome is a modified stalk of a plant that grows horizontally from a root.) It’s flavor is warm and a bit peppery. When you peel and chop it, you’ll notice it stains your hands and fingernails a lovely golden color. So you won’t be surprised it is also used as a dye.
Moroccan Vegetable Soup takes some time to make, with all of its peeling and chopping. But it’s time well spent, I promise! The rest of the time is simmering and enjoying the lovely aromas and editing the spices to your tastes, if you like. But be warned, you’ll likely never return to that red-and-white can. Enjoy!
If you like vegan recipes, sure to check out my other Vegan Recipes!
If you are interested in other soups, why not try another of my Soups and Stews.
PIN this VEGAN Moroccan Vegetable Soup ->
Moroccan Vegetable Soup
This recipe was generously given to me by Brianne Ryan, at our local Queen Anne Coffee Company. I adapted it slightly to fit into a 4-5 quart pot. It combines Moroccan spices with hearty vegetables and chickpeas for a flavor combination you will crave again and again.
She recommends garnishing with Greek yogurt and cilantro leaves, if you like! Also, feel free to add additional cinnamon and/or fresh ginger to taste!
Since this recipe doesn’t include a stock or broth, ingredients that usually add salt to a soup recipe, you will likely need to generously salt to achieve the flavor you want.
It makes a pretty big batch, (3-4 quarts) but you won’t be sorry – it’s THAT good!
- Prep Time: 60 min
- Cook Time: 1-2 hours
- Total Time: 2-3 hours
- Yield: 4 quarts 1x
- Category: Soups and Stews
- Method: Stovetop
Ingredients
Vegetables:
- 1 Large Carrot
- 1 Large or 2 small Gold Potatoes
- 1 Squash (Delicata, Acorn, or Butternut), about 1 lb.
- 1 Medium Sweet Potato
- 1 Bell Pepper, any color
- 1 Small Zucchini
- 1 Med Sweet Onion
- 1/2 – 1 Serrano or Jalapeño chili, stemmed and seeded (Optional)
Fresh Herbs:
- 1/4 c Finely chopped Fresh Ginger
- 1 T Finely Chopped Fresh Turmeric
- 1/2 Bunch Cilantro, finely chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic, peeled, chopped
Dry Spices:
- 2 T Ground Cinnamon
- 2 T Ground Turmeric
- 1/2 t Ground Ginger
- 1 T Powdered Garlic
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Other Ingredients:
- 1 can (about 1 1/2 cups) Chickpeas
- 4 oz. Tomato Paste
- 2 T Maple Syrup (could substitute Brown sugar)
- 3–4 cups water
- 1 Small-Medium Lemon
- 2 T Olive oil
Instructions
- Peel and dice the vegetables – See Note 1. Add oil to a large pot over Medium-High heat. Add the onion and saute 2-3 minutes, then add other vegetables and continue to saute, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and lightly caramelized.
- Add the fresh spices – ginger, turmeric, cilantro and garlic. Reduce heat, stirring regularly.
- In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk the dry spices into the tomato paste and water. Add to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally for at least 1 hour.
- Using an immersion blender (See Note 2), puree a fraction of the soup (20-25%). This will allow the natural starches and fiber of the ingredients to thicken the soup.
- Add the chickpeas and maple syrup. Salt and pepper to taste (See Note 3). Squeeze in the lemon juice. Taste and add more maple syrup, salt and pepper, if desired. If you like, add crushed red pepper for more heat, if you like. Add additional water if you would like the soup thinner, or if much has evaporated.
- Garnish with cilantro and/or Greek yogurt if desired. (Note: Greek yogurt is not Vegan)
Notes
- When chopping vegetables, it’s a good idea to cut into shapes that maximize the surface area, so they absorb spices and flavorings. Thinly-sliced elongated rectangles are better than cube shapes, for instance.
- If you don’t have an immersion blender, feel free to use a potato masher or cool a fraction of your soup for 30 minutes or so in a separate dish, then puree in a blender. But be careful, hot items should not be in the blender, as the steam will pop the top off, risking a burn! So please, cool any soup properly before putting in the blender!
- Feel free to add more salt/pepper/maple syrup to taste! Also, I used a whole jalapeño, but if you like, you can omit or use more, to taste! Feel free to sprinkle some red pepper flake at the end, too, for more heat, if desired!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/3 cup
Keywords: Moroccan, vegan, vegetables, soups, stews
Moroccan flavors suit our household very well. We aren’t vegan, but we entertain guests who are from time to time and it will be great to try this out for one of those times.
Cheers,
Chava
Thanks, Chaka! I do hope you get a chance to give it a try! I just can’t get enough of it, the spices are so awesome! Thanks or your visit!
I’ve been indulging so much here in Mexico, I can’t wait to get home and make some hearty, healthy meals like this one!! It sounds so warm and comforting, perfect for a chilly winter day!
This soup truly is the perfect balance to vacation or holidaying of any sort! Thanks for visiting, Katherine!
The bold Moroccan flavours and colour in this soup are just amazing Laura. So perfectly comforting and warming, I would love a bowl of this deliciousness on a cold evening 🙂
Thanks, Ashika! This truly is a great soup, thanks to the spices and herbs, and of course the lovely Brianne who created the recipe! Hope you get the chance to try it!
I love the idea of Moroccan flavors in your soup! Looks so comforting and hearty! YUM! Pinning!
Thanks, Kim! It is definitely comforting and hearty! I hope you get the chance to try it! Thanks for visiting!
You had me at Moroccan, Laura! I’m a fan of Moroccan flavors, but I’ve never thought about using ’em in a soup. This sounds delicious…and perfect for the cold winter days that are definitely coming our way! To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever cooked with fresh turmeric. We have the powder in the pantry, but I’ll have to see if I can find the fresh version somewhere. I always love cooking with new ingredients! Well done on this soup, my friend!
Thanks, David! When I decided to make this soup, I didn’t know what fresh turmeric looked like either TBH. I looked it up on Google! And from there, it was surprisingly pretty easy to find. You may find yourself trying to find new ways to use it! But definitely give this soup a try, you won’t be sorry! Thanks for your visit!
This soup sounds soooo flavorful Laura! Soup is a favorite for lunch or dinner at our house during the winter season. I’ll need to add your recipe to our soup menu!
Thanks, Mary Ann! Flavor is what its all about – plus it’s super healthy!
This looks incredibly yummy, Laura! Love all the flavours goin’ on here, especially all that ginger. With so many good for ya ingredients and all that flavour, I wouldn’t mind eating a couple bowls 😉
Thanks, Dawn! It really is a yummy soup, and I agree the flavors of the herbs and spices are EVERYTHING in this soup! Thanks for your visit!
Laura, this looks so good! I love something warm and hearty for dinner this time of year and this would be perfect!
Thanks, Kelsie – it is one of my new favorites, I just love the spice combination here! Thanks for your visit!
Oh what a beauty ! So intense flavours bursting with health ! Love turmeric; I even add some to lemon curd 🙂 Thank you Laura !
Thanks so much! I was surprised by the amount of turmeric and cinnamon, but serious flavor requires serious seasoning! I’ve never used turmeric on anything sweet. What a novel idea – thanks for the tip! ☺️
We love soups and Moroccan suits our palate very well. The first thing I did was pin it to our Moroccan board. A soup that will appear on our table soon. My daughter lived on QA hill when she was younger. I love it there, it’s a funky neighborhood.
What a small world, Ron! It is a great neighborhood, we love it as well! It’s changing pretty quickly these days – for better or worse, we will know as time goes by. Glad you love Moroccan spices. Hope you love it as much as we do. I’ve found with it that it’s best to not be shy with the salt. It really wakes up all of the flavors!
Moroccan spices are so delicious! This soup looks amazing!
Thanks so much, Kelly! I totally agree! Thanks for visiting!