Irish Vegetable Soup is a simple and rustic soup consisting of potatoes, carrots, onions, leeks and broccoli cooked in broth and pureed until smooth. Serve topped with lots of freshly ground black pepper and snipped chives and alongside sliced Irish brown bread. Yields 15 cups or about 10 (1-1/2 cup) servings.
I love a good soup recipe. And when it’s as easy as this one-pot gem well? I’ll love it even more. I found this recipe on TikTok late last year. I never had a pureed vegetable soup like this before and was instantly intrigued. After I made it, I knew I was going to share it on SS and add it to my St. Patrick’s Day recipe repertoire.
What Is Irish Vegetable Soup?
It’s a humble soup of potatoes, carrots, onion and leek (broccoli is optional) simmered in vegetable broth and pureed until velvety smooth. Served topped with lots of freshly ground black pepper. It’s even more comforting when served with a slice of freshly baked brown bread.
Truth be told, it doesn’t need to be St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy this soup.
To Make This Irish Vegetable Soup You Will Need:
- butter – Lends fat for sautéing and flavors the soup. If vegan, use olive oil instead.
- olive oil – Lends fat for sautéing and flavors the soup.
- carrots – Adds a delicate sweetness to the soup.
- yellow onions – Adds a sweet and subtle onion flavor to the soup.
- leek – Lends a distinct sweet and oniony flavor.
- kosher salt – Helps soften the vegetables and enhances the flavors of this soup.
- garlic – Adds distinct punchy flavor.
- red skin potatoes – Gives this soup butter creamy texture once pureed.
- vegetable broth – I used unsalted vegetable broth. Low-sodium or unsalted chicken broth may be substituted.
- broccoli – Lends color and flavor to this soup.
- freshly ground black pepper – Adds some subtle bite and flavor.
- snipped chives – For a pop of color and delicate onion flavor – for serving. (optional)
Sauté the vegetables:
Add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil into a 5 or 6-quart dutch oven and heat over medium.
To that add 2 roughly chopped carrots, 1 large leek (cleaned and sliced) and 2 chopped yellow onions with a teaspoon of kosher salt. These don’t have to be perfect, because you will be pureeing the soup later on.
Stir to coat in the butter. Cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened slightly.
Next add in the garlic, stir and cook 2 minutes.
Then add in 4 medium to large red skin potatoes. I cut each potato in half lengthwise and then into thirds.
Simmer Vegetables:
Pour in 2 quarts (8 cups) unsalted vegetable stock.
Stir, cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
Once boiling, reduce heat to low and add in 2 generous cups broccoli. Stir, cover and cook 20 minutes over low heat.
The soup is ready once the vegetables are tender.
Puree Soup:
Working in batches (because this makes a lot of soup), ladle vegetables and broth into a high powered blender. Secure the lid and remove the center plug before covering with a clean kitchen towel.
Puree until velvety smooth. I poured this into an 8-cup measuring cup and then pureed the second batch.
Alternatively, you could use a stick blender and directly puree the soup in the pot. (I just think my Vitamix does a better job at getting everything smooth)
Transfer the soup back to the pot. Heat through if needed and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. For me I used 2 teaspoons of salt, but taste and season to your preference.
Ladle soup into bowls and top with a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper and some snipped fresh chives.
It’s also incredible served with freshly baked Irish brown bread. The texture of this soup is so perfect and the flavor is earthy, yet light and subtly sweet from the carrots and leek. The broccoli flavor is subtle and the freshly ground black pepper gives this soup that extra something special.
How Long Will Irish Vegetable Soup Last In the Fridge?
If stored properly in an air-tight container (or containers) it will last 1 week in the refrigerator.
Can You Freeze Irish Vegetable Soup?
Yes! This soup can be portioned into freezer safe containers or re-sealable storage bags and stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. Simply reheat low and slowly.
Enjoy! And if you give this Irish Vegetable Soup recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Recipe adapted from Sarah Kenney on TikTok.
