Healthy, Plant-Based Alphabet Vegetable Soup
Alphabet Soup is a classic dish that many of us grew up with. Perhaps you had a cup on a day when you stayed home, too sick for school. Or, maybe it was a regular family dinner, served with grilled cheese sandwiches. The original recipe was pretty plain: simple vegetables in a tomato broth. But, the best part was fishing for the letter-shaped noodles. Pick out a few pieces of pasta to spell your name, find “Mom” or say “OK”.
Plant-Based Vegan Protein with Chickpea Pasta
While there were vegetables in this canned version of the soup, it was a bit lacking in nutrition. The broth was ridiculously high in sodium and the white pasta noodles could be improved. Plus, there are eggs in the pasta which means it’s not vegan-friendly or plant-based. How to improve this?
Enter: Chickpea Alphabet Pasta Noodles.
These fun noodles from Banza come in alphabet shapes that spell out B-A-N-Z-A. Made from chickpeas, they’re loaded with plant-based vegan protein and tons of fiber. Plus, they’re naturally gluten-free. And the flavor? It tastes just like regular pasta. These will pass by picky eaters without a hitch.
Protein can be a big concern for anyone trying to eat a healthy, plant-based diet. Women need about 46g per day while men need about 56g. It’s nice to know that products like these new Banza pastas
Adding more Nutrition for a Healthy Plant-Based Soup
Besides just the noodles, this version of Alphabet Soup has more nutrition from other ingredients. While the original canned version had a few measly pieces of corn and peas, this plant-based recipe has loads of veggies.
You can take some help from the freezer section and use a simple vegetable blend. Feel free to add your own variations, though. Edamame, cauliflower florets, and whole leaf frozen spinach would all be delicious additions.
Load up on extra veggies for this healthy plant-based alphabet soup 
Take a little help from the freezer section with frozen vegetables
Less Sodium than Typical Canned Soup
The original version of canned Alphabet Soup is loaded with sodium. Just 1/2 cup of condensed soup has over 25% (650mg) of your daily sodium allotment. And who eats just 1/2 cup?
My healthy, plant-based recipe uses a mirepoix and tomato paste to build your own broth. This is fundamental for any cook to know. A mirepoix is a diced combination of two parts onion to one part celery and one part carrot. It is the foundation to flavor. By sautéing these vegetables a few minutes, you build natural, delicious flavor.
A mirepoix of carrot, onion, and celery is the base for building flavor in soups and stews 
Saute the mirepoix of onion, carrot, and celery to build basic flavors for soups, stews, and sauces
Then, a touch of tomato paste adds color and another layer of richness. These simple ingredients help you create healthy soup without relying on extra salt.
While I do use a low-sodium vegetable bouillon cube for this recipe, you don’t have too. If you’re limiting your sodium intake, feel free to omit this. You can add more flavor with fresh herbs like thyme, chives, parsley, or basil.
This is one of the essential plant-based recipes you’ll want to have in your cooking collection.
Chef Katie’s Plant-Based Cooking Tips
Banza Legume Rice: Banza is a food brand that creates high-protein pasta and rice made from chickpeas, lentils, and legumes. You can find their products at health food stores and online. In addition to this recipe, I love using their
No Alphabet Chickpea Pasta? You can substitute with any small-shaped whole grain pasta. You can use whole wheat macaroni or shells, brown rice noodles, or another chickpea shape. Just make sure the noodles are small enough to fit on a spoon. You don’t want to need a fork to eat soup!
Stretch this Soup: To stretch this soup for more servings, add more frozen vegetables. You can add the same mixed vegetable blend. Or, try other options. Frozen spinach, frozen broccoli florets, and frozen cauliflower would all be delicious.
More Plant-Based Protein: To add more plant-based protein to this easy vegetable soup, add a can of chickpeas or red kidney beans. You can also
Vegetable Bouillon Cubes: There are good-quality vegetable bouillon cubes from Edward and Sons. I always keep these on hand. They can be helpful for adding more flavor to quick recipes, especially those with simple flavors. If you’re worried about salt, you can use a low-sodium variety or omit.
Oil-Free Mission: I’m on a mission to get rid of empty calories, like those found in refined oils. This recipe is 100% oil-free. You can use a little bit of water to saute the vegetables if they start to burn.
Tomato paste adds dark color, rich flavor, and subtle sweetness 
“Singe” or “caramelize” the tomato paste until you have a brick-red color. This creates deeper, richer flavor 
Low-Sodium veggie boullion cubes are an easy way to add flavor to soups and stews. Keep some on-hand for quick plant-based cooking 
Alphabet shaped pasta noodles from Banza are made with chickpeas. They are loaded with fiber and plant-based protein. 
Alphabet noodles made from chickpeas come from Banza
Easy Plant-Based Chickpea Alphabet Vegetable Soup
- Easy
- Servings: 4
- Ready In: 25 minutes
- Yield: about 7 cups
Similar Recipes: If you like this recipe, you’ll also love Summer Squash Farmer’s Market Legume Rice Risotto, Gluten-Free Vegan Mac
Easy Plant-Based Chickpea Alphabet Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 2 carrots diced
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 3 cup water + 1 vegetable bouillon cube or 4 cups vegetables stock
- 1 cup uncooked Banza Alphabet Chickpea pasta
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables peas, corn, carrot or similar mix
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- To make the Easy Chickpea Alphabet Vegetable Soup: In a large pot, sweat the onion, celery, and carrot over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Clear a spot in the middle of the pot. Place the tomato paste in that spot. Caramelize the paste until it turns a darker red, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the water and vegetable bouillon cube (or vegetable stock). Cover, bring to a boil, and reduce to simmer. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Increase heat to high. When the soup is boiling, add the Banza Alphabet Chickpea Pasta. Cook until al dente, about 5 minutes. Add the frozen vegetables and cook just until hot, only 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook or the past will start to fall apart.
- Turn off the heat. Taste to adjust seasoning. Enjoy!
Notes
Ready in: 25 minutes
Yield: about 7 cups
Serves: 4
Nutrition Facts
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 4.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| calories 281 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 4 g | 6 % |
| Saturated Fat 1 g | 3 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 3 mg | 1 % |
| Sodium 552 mg | 23 % |
| Potassium 334 mg | 10 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 51 g | 17 % |
| Dietary Fiber 13 g | 50 % |
| Sugars 13 g | |
| Protein 18 g | 36 % |
| Vitamin A | 126 % |
| Vitamin C | 18 % |
| Calcium | 18 % |
| Iron | 22 % |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Shopping and Gear List
- Not-Beef + Not-Chick’n + Garden Veggie Edward & Sons Bouillon Cubes
- Banza Chickpea Pasta – High Protein
Gluten Free Healthy Pasta – Variety Case (Alphabets, Casarecce, Gemelli) - Simply Organic Italian Seasoning Certified Organic, 0.95-Ounce Container
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