Mama Teresa's Vegetable Soup

A hearty Italian-style vegetable soup made with fresh tomatoes, zucchini, potato, and aromatics, finished with a savory egg and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese mixture. This comforting soup combines garden vegetables with herbs for a nourishing meal.

4 servings
53 min

Ingredients

  • 6 oz plum tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 large yellow potato
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 1 rib celery
  • cups water
  • tablespoons fresh basil
  • tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • teaspoons coarse gray sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Cut a shallow X in bottom of each tomato with a sharp paring knife and blanch tomatoes in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan of boiling water 20 seconds. Transfer tomatoes with a slotted spoon to a cutting board and, when cool enough to handle, peel, beginning from scored end, with knife, then seed and chop.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Heat oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion and tomatoes, then reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 4 to 5 minutes.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Meanwhile, peel potato and cut into 1/4-inch dice.

    3 min

  4. 4.

    Add potato to onion mixture along with zucchini and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add water, herbs, sea salt, and pepper and bring to a boil, uncovered. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from heat.

    35 min

  5. 5.

    Whisk together egg and cheese in a bowl until combined well, then add to soup in a stream, stirring. Divide among 4 bowls and serve with olive oil and cheese.

    5 min