Easy Homemade Vegetable Soup – Oma's einfache hausgemachte Gemüsesuppe

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

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This yummy homemade vegetable soup will be your favorite!

This homemade vegetable soup isn't just delicious – it's a lifesaver when the unexpected strikes. Whether you're facing a power outage or need to whip up a hearty meal for a crowd during an emergency, this recipe has got you covered.

It's the perfect way to use up frozen vegetables and refrigerated leftovers before they spoil, making it an essential part of your disaster preparedness plan.

I stumbled upon this recipe one day while decluttering my freezer, and little did I know it would become my go-to solution for turning potential food waste into a nourishing meal.

That lonely 5-pound bag of California-style veggies? It became the star of the show!

A Bit of This and a bit of that …

1. The beauty of this soup lies in its flexibility. Use whatever you have on hand – it's all about making the most of your available resources.
2. Got some leftover cooked veggies in the fridge that might not last much longer? Toss them in!
3. I've added cubed leftover roasted sweet potato before, and it was delicious.
4. Vegeta seasoning adds great flavor, but don't worry if you don't have it – the soup will still be tasty.
5. To make this VEGAN friendly during an emergency, double-check the ingredients in your bouillon cubes and instant mashed potato flakes.
6. No instant mashed potato flakes? No problem! Use raw potatoes – cube them or grate them right into the soup.

This recipe is perfect for cleaning out your freezer, especially when you need to use up those frozen vegetables quickly.

While it might not be traditionally German, my taste buds are certainly influenced by German cooking. A dash of Maggi and Vegeta transforms it into a "German" creation – Wunderbar!

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Incorporating Fresh Produce

While this soup recipe is designed for convenience with frozen vegetables, incorporating fresh produce can elevate its flavor and nutritional value, especially when you need to use up perishables right after a power outage or emergency.

• Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and turnips are excellent additions, as they hold up well during cooking and add hearty texture.
• Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, or Swiss chard can be stirred in towards the end of cooking for a nutrient boost.
• Celery, onions, and garlic make a great aromatic base if sautéed before adding the other ingredients.

Adapting Cooking Times for Fresh Ingredients

• Keep in mind that adding fresh vegetables will likely increase the cooking time, particularly for harder vegetables. You may need to simmer the soup for an additional 15-30 minutes to ensure all vegetables are tender. 
• It's best to add softer vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers later in the cooking process to prevent them from becoming mushy. 
• If using fresh potatoes instead of instant flakes, they'll need more time to cook through and naturally thicken the soup. 
• In a power outage scenario, consider how the extended cooking time might impact your available fuel or heat source. 
• Chopping vegetables into smaller pieces can help reduce cooking time in these situations. 
• Lastly, remember that fresh vegetables may alter the soup's liquid ratio, so be prepared to adjust the amount of water or broth to achieve your desired consistency.

Oma says,

Put kettle of water on to boil when you start to make this soup. That way you can add boiling water which will speed up the process.

Instant mashed potatoes are a must-have in any emergency food stash. They're great for thickening soups and gravies, and can be a comforting side dish when you need a quick meal.

Make a large batch of this soup when you have the chance. Portion it out and freeze it for future emergencies. It's like having a warm, comforting hug ready whenever you need it most.

Ready to make some homemade vegetable soup?

Print Recipe

Easy Homemade Vegetable Soup – Oma's einfache hausgemachte Gemüsesuppe

This homemade vegetable soup is so quickly made using frozen vegetables and any leftovers you might have. It's a nourishing way to clean out your freezer and fridge.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings:

Makes 10 - 12 servings

Ingredients:

• 5 lb (2.3 kg) frozen California-style veggies (carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower mix)
• about 12 cups (2.9 l) hot or boiling water, divided
• 6 vegetable bouillon cubes (enough to make 6 cups (1.4 l) broth)
• instant mashed potato flakes, to taste
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the frozen veggies in a large soup pot and add about 11 cups (2.6 liters) of hot or boiling water.
2. Dissolve the bouillon cubes in 1 cup (240 milliliters) boiling water and add it to the pot.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and cover. Let the soup simmer for about 6 to 10 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.
4. Using a potato masher, crush some of the veggies to make a creamier soup.
5. Stir in enough instant mashed potato flakes to make the soup as creamy and thick as you wish.
6. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Notes/Hints:

• These quantities are all optional. Use this method with whatever veggies you have on hand. If you have any cooked veggies sitting in the fridge, add them too.
• If you don’t have or want to use instant mashed potato flakes, you can cut up some raw potatoes or grate them into the soup along with the frozen veggies.
• To add some German flavor, season with MAGGI liquid seasoning and/or VEGETA food seasoning.
• To add a bit of richness, add a tablespoon or two of butter when you are stirring in the potato flakes.
• If you like a bit of spice, add in some Montreal steak spice.
• Use fresh veggies and altering cooking time to allow them to become tender, most taking about 15 to 20 minutes depending upon how small you cut them up.
• Add leftover meat or smoked sausage.  

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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

10.08.2021 revision update

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.