Soup is great anytime of year and this is one of those hearty and balanced soups that can be a side dish or a main. This Vegetable Garbanzo Soup is filled with healthy veggies and garbanzo beans, or chickpeas. It's a great option to save time and make ahead for busy weeknights!
Peel & dice the carrots. Dice the celery. Dice the onion. Chop the parsley.
Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans.
Preheat a soup pot or dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, diced carrots, celery, and onion. Stir to combine and then cook for 5 minutes until they glisten and the onions begin to turn translucent.
Add the garbanzo beans, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add the broth, tomatoes, and then bay leaf. Bring to a boil and then cook for 15 minutes until the carrots are soft.
To a small mixing bowl or measuring cup, add the cold water and cornstarch. Whisk together until dissolved to make a slurry. Add the parsley, then slowly whisk the slurry into the soup. Bring back to a boil, stirring as the soup thickens, then cook for another 5 minutes.
Adding Pasta/Noodles: If you want to bulk this soup up even more, you can add a short-cut pasta. Macaroni pasta, Ditalini pasta, Orzo pasta are great options. You can also use egg noodles. For any of these options, I like to cook them separately to al dente and then add them to the soup for the final 5 minutes of cooking.
How long will this Garbanzo soup last? Once cooked, this soup can be stored in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can reheat it on the stove in a pot on medium heat. Or reheat it in the microwave in a microwave safe container.
Can I freeze this Garbanzo soup? This Garbanzo Soup Recipe can be made entirely ahead, portioned out as desired, and then frozen. I like to freeze this soup in freezer bags laying flat in a sheet pan. Once frozen, I can stack the bags like books for easy access in the freezer. You can also use an airtight freezer safe container. This soup will last for up to 6 months in the freezer.
To reheat the soup, you can thaw it in the fridge overnight and then heat it on medium heat in a pot on the stove. You can also reheat it from the frozen state.