This Ratatouille Soup recipe with quinoa is a dieter's dream. The recipe is quick to make, low calorie, gluten free and vegan, but packs also a lot of flavor and nutrients. While summer is ideal for making this fresh low calorie soup (under 100 calories per serving).
The vegetables used in preparing this quinoa soup recipe are available year round in good quality and reasonably priced.
Ratatouille Soup with Quinoa: A Nourishing Low Calorie Soup
With all the baking and such I've been doing lately, it seemed high time I made a lighter low calorie dish, so I whipped up this Ratatouille Soup for lunch today. This is a quick-cooking low calorie soup. 10 minutes to saute veggies and quinoa and 20 minutes simmering. It is packed with plenty of veggies, and is even gluten-free. I was satisfied with a bowl of this vegetable soup for lunch, but it would also pair wonderfully with a sandwich or as a dinner starter.
Low Calorie Soup
The soup features the vegetables common in traditional ratatouille, teamed with a some quinoa
which thickens the soup a little, making it a bit more substantial, but not dense. It is actually quite hearty, especially considering it's a soup under 100 calories per serving.
If the appeal of this soup for you is that it is gluten free, try my Potato Leek soup as well.
How to Make Ratatouille Soup
Here is how to make this quick vegetarian low calorie soup with quinoa.
The recipe makes 10 servings.
Prep time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins | Total Time: 40 Mins
Ingredients needed:
- olive oil
- eggplant
- zucchini squash
- sweet onion
- garlic cloves
- dry quinoa
- bay leaves
- thyme
- vegetable stock or chicken broth
- crushed tomatoes (canned)
- jarred hot peppers or red pepper flakes
- fresh basil leaves (to serve, optional)
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and toss in eggplant, zucchini and onion. Start to saute for about 2 minutes.
Add garlic to the pot, along with quinoa and herbs. Cook stirring frequently until vegetables and quinoa are lightly browned.
Pour in the broth. Add tomatoes and chopped hot peppers or red pepper flakes to the broth.
Bring to a rapid boil then reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Ladle soup into bowls to serve and top with fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese.
Variations
Options are limitless with soups, but here are a few change-ups and simple additions you may like.
- Add a generous pinch of red pepper flakes before simmering to spice things up.
- Try using lightly browned roasted vegetables rather than sautéing. They will add great flavor.
- Try it with a tablespoon of Italian seasoning rather than the bay leaves and thyme.
- Toss in some diced tomatoes along with the crushed.
- If you are not vegetarian add a little meat to the soup.
- For a low carb option swap the quinoa for cauliflower rice or Shirataki noodles.
Serving the Soup
This healthy soup pairs well with pretty much anything that vegetable or tomato soup does, such as grilled cheese or cheese toasts.
For lighter sides, a salad with Avocado Ranch or a nice red wine vinaigrette would be good choices. My cauliflower tots or Keto Cajun crackers would be delicious choices too.
Ratatouille Soup with Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 tbs olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 ½ cups diced eggplant most of the skin removed, but leave a little for color
- 1 ½ cups medium zucchini squash quartered and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups sweet onion chopped
- ½ cup quinoa
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 ½ teaspoon dry thyme leaves
- 6 cups of vegetable stock substitute chicken stock if you prefer
- 3 cups of crushed tomato
- ¼ cup hot chopped peppers jarred
Instructions
- Toss the eggplant, zucchini, and onion in oil. Then place in a preheated (med-high) dutch oven or soup pot.
- Saute for about 2 minutes, then add garlic, quinoa and herbs. Saute until quinoa is golden brown and veggies have started to caramelize (about 8 more minutes).
- Add the stock, then add tomatoes and peppers, stir.
- Once it comes to a rapid boil, reduce heat to simmer and cover. Simmer 20 minutes.
- Serve with fresh chopped basil or grated cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Lisa says
I'm going to have to try this!
LyndaS says
It looks good. I can just imagine eating it with some good, crusty bread.
courtney says
I was just thinking about making ratatouille! I'm struggling to get hubby to eat quinoa since it's one of M's safe foods .. maybe he'll eat this! 🙂
Robin Gagnon says
If he likes veggie soup this might be a good way to introduce quinoa. There isn't that much in this, just enough to thicken the soup a little.
Amber K says
I love the versatility that comes with Ratatouille
Jenn- The Rebel Chick says
I mean fall. My fingers are moving faster then my eyes today.
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy.com says
Seriously drooling. Looks delicious. Once it gets cooler here in Texas, I'll be trying this.
Samantha says
Do you pre-cook the quinoa before adding it to the vegetables, or does it cook once you add the broth?
Robin Gagnon says
Hi Samanatha. No, I did not cook it first.
Judy says
What can you sub for the eggplant? I do not like eggplant
Robin Gagnon says
Mushrooms would be my first thought, but if you aren't fond of them yellow summer squash.
Liz says
I love ratatouille and quinoa so it's no surprise that I thought this soup was fabulous!!!
Tara says
I love the addition of the quinoa in this recipe!
Samantha says
What do you consider 1 serving? 1 Cup?
Robin Gagnon says
Roughly a cup. The volume will vary based on your veggies and liquid that steams off will always vary.
Angela says
I used leftover roasted vegetables in the soup and it still came out great