Lots of Veggies Delicious and Robust Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cups chopped leeks, from 1 large leek, thoroughly cleaned
1 cup diced celery, about 1 large stalk
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
1 cup diced carrots, about 2 good sized carrots
1 cup parsnip, about 2 good sized parsnips, tough core discarded
2 cups zucchini, about 2 medium, diced
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stalks removed and discarded (or saved for stock), sliced
salt and ground black pepper, as desired
1 teaspoon fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped or 1/2 teaspoon ground
2 tablespoons fresh dill
1/4 cup parsley stalks
6 cups low sodium vegetable broth
14 ounces low sodium fire roasted tomatoes, diced
1 1/2 cups pinto beans, cooked, if from a can, drained and rinsed
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup Parmesan-style cheese substitute, optional

In a large soup pot warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and leek and saute about 5 minutes, stirring to avoid burning the leek. Add the celery, garlic, carrots, and parsnips and continue to saute an additional 8-10 minutes or until ingredients begin to caramelize. Add the zucchini and shiitake mushrooms and cook 5 minutes more. Season with salt, pepper, as desired. Add the herbs, except the dill and parsley stalks. Cook 1-2 minutes.
Combine the dill and parsley stalks into a package wrapped in cheese cloth.
Add the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes and pinto beans. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer , partially covered, for about 30 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Remove and discard the herbs in the cheese cloth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
In a small skillet, warm the 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the shiitake mushrooms and sautee until lightly tinged with color. About 5-minutes.
Ladle into serving bowls and top with sauteed shiitake mushrooms and optional cheese substitute if desired. Delicious served with crusty multi-grain gluten free bread.

Nutrition Information