Vegan Alphabet Soup

Serves 4
Time: 30 minutes

Alphabet soup felt like one of the great lies of canned food when I was a kid. The idea was magical: a bowl of alphabet soup full of letters floating around waiting to spell something important. But in reality you got three soggy vowels, half an R, and maybe a lowercase “h” if you were lucky (or is that a lowercase “y”?) You couldn’t spell anything and eventually just had to eat.

I still love it.

This vegan version of the alphabet soup is less about spelling your name. It’s more about tiny pasta swimming in a tomatoey broth with carrots, celery, a potato, and garlic. Just enough to make it feel like actual dinner.

It’s cozy in that canned-soup way, but better. Richer broth, better texture, more vegetables, no mysterious metallic aftertaste. A homemade soup that really hits the spot.

There is something deeply comforting about eating letters. That part never wore off.

Why This Alphabet Soup Recipe Rocks

• One pot, about 30 minutes, mostly vegetables you might (hopefully?) already have.
• The potato makes it hearty enough to be actual lunch, not a warm-up act.
• Kids eat this alphabet soup because it’s fun. You eat it because it’s good. Nobody compromises. The flavor is irresistible at any age.
• Pantry friendly with canned tomato, dried herbs and some small shaped pasta.

Tips For The Best Vegan Alphabet Soup

About the pasta: Since the pasta is the whole question everyone has: cook the pasta just to tender. It keeps absorbing broth as it sits, so what looks perfect in the pot will look like stew tomorrow.

No alphabet pasta in the grocery stores? Feel free to choose any small shape that works for you: ditalini, stars, or broken-up spaghetti. The letters are the fun part, not the function.

Choose your potato: Russet breaks down a little and thickens things while Yukon Gold holds its shape. Both options are good, choosing is more of a texture preference. Also, Yukon Golds you don’t have to peel.

Bulk it up: To make your alphabet soup recipe heartier, add a can of drained white beans or chickpeas in with the broth. You can also add some cubed tofu (baked or not).

Storage and leftovers: Store the alphabet soup and cooked pasta in separate containers. Reheat them together for best results. That said…

If you prefer having it in one container, you can just add a splash more broth or water when you reheat and warm it through. But note the pasta is going to be a little mushy.

Want it brothy from the very start? Hold the pasta closer to ¾ cup.

More Easy Vegetable Soup Recipes:

Yuba Chick’n Noodle Soup

Another classic soup that you can get in a can, but is much better homemade.

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Mushroom Lentil Noodle Soup

Easy, hearty vegan noodle soup with cremini mushrooms, brown lentils, and cavatappi pasta

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Garlicky White Bean & Asparagus Soup

Creamy vegan asparagus soup with white beans, garlic, tarragon, and a squeeze of lemon

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Vegan Alphabet Soup FAQ

Can I make this gluten-free? For sure. Use a gluten-free small pasta — gluten-free alphabet pasta exists if you hunt for it, otherwise any tiny GF shape works. Everything else in the pot is already gluten-free.

Where do I even find alphabet pasta? Usually right in the pasta aisle, sometimes near the kids’ or soup pasta.

If your store doesn’t carry it, it’s easy to find online. And honestly any small shape works in a pinch. “Os” are great (see the pic below, adorable!) 

Is this actually kid-friendly? Totally. It’s the spelling-with-your-spoon thing! Kids eat the vegetables without filing a complaint because the letters are doing the negotiating.

Can I add more veggies or beans to this alphabet soup recipe? Yup yup yup. Frozen peas, corn, green beans, or a can of white beans all work. Add quick-cooking stuff near the end so it doesn’t go to mush.

How did I end up here? You were probably searching for vegan alphabet soup recipe, vegetable soup, or kid friendly vegetable soup. Congratulations, your search ends here!

Vegan Alphabet Soup

Isa Chandra

Cozy vegan alphabet soup made from scratch with carrots, potato, and a tomato-touched herb broth. One pot, about 30 minutes, and far better than the can you remember.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Soup

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 2 ribs celery diced small
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 cup carrots diced
• 1 large russet potato, peeled (or yukon gold) diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 cup dried alphabet pasta
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Fresh black pepper
• 1 cup frozen peas
• Chopped fresh dill or parsley to finish (optional)

Instructions

 

• Preheat a 4 quart soup pot over medium heat. Saute onion and celery in the oil with a pinch of salt until soft. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds or so.
• Add carrots, potatoes, thyme, tarragon, vegetable broth and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower heat to a simmer, add pasta and cook until pasta and vegetables are soft, about 10 more minutes.
• Add the alphabet pasta. Lower to a steady simmer and cook uncovered, stirring now and then so the letters don't stick, until the pasta and potatoes are tender, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the peas if using and cook another 2 minutes or so, just until heated through. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. If the broth looks crowded, add a splash more broth or water and warm it back through.
• Finish with dill or parsley if you like. Serve hot. It thickens as it sits, so loosen leftovers with a little broth when you reheat.

Keyword alphabet soup, vegan soup, vegetable soup

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