Looking for a reset after some time of indulgence? Whether it's after overindulging, or you are just craving a delicious vegetable soup, this cozy Detox Soup will give your body what it needs and help get your digestion back on track.
Let's be clear, when I say a "detox soup" I'm not talking about a magic pill that's going to cure what ails you. I'm talking about a soup that will help give your digestive system a bit of a reset after a period of time of overdoing it. This would also be a lovely soup when you are feeling under the weather and crave something light and healthy. Or you could have no reason at all other than craving a healthy veggie soup! For more healthy vegetable soups check out my recipes for Curried Red Lentil Soup, Carrot and Red Lentil Soup, Tuscan White Bean Soup, and Spiced Lentil and Vegetable Soup.
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Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and easy to make with common ingredients.
- Packed with nutritious vegetables, plant based protein, fibre and healthy fats.
- It's like a big warm hug in a bowl.
- It's versatile! Switch up the ingredients to make it your own.
- It freezes beautifully so you can save some for a later date.
If you love using hearty greens check out my post about Benefits and Uses of Winter Greens.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Leeks - add a mild sweetness but white or yellow onions can also be used.
- Celery, carrots, cauliflower - A simple combination of veggies that can be substituted with any other combination you like.
- Fresh turmeric - If you haven't tried it, and it's available to you, I suggest you grab some for this soup! It adds a lovely soft flavor that is different to powdered. However, powdered turmeric can easily be substituted. You will need one teaspoon of dried for every tablespoon of finely grated fresh.
- White beans - Here's where some protein comes in. White beans have a lovely creamy texture perfect for soups but feel free to sub in any of your favorite beans, lentils, cubed tofu, or shredded chicken.
- Vegetable broth - Try this Homemade Vegetable Broth recipe or use store-bought. Go for low or no-sodium and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Chicken broth works here too.
- Spinach - For soups I buy the large bags of spinach rather than the containers of baby spinach. It's less expensive, higher in fiber, and you can just toss a whole bag in the freezer to have on hand for any future soups or recipes you want to toss it into. Other leafy greens work here too such as kale, collard greens, arugula, and Swiss chard.
- Coconut milk - Unlike many "detox" soups that are focused more on the lowest calories, the combination of healthy fat and plant based protein will keep you feeling satisfied for longer. Feel free to leave it out or substitute with heavy cream. You can use a lower fat cream but keep in mind it may separate.
- Black pepper - adding black pepper can help with better absorption of curcumin; the active ingredient in turmeric. "Curcumin in turmeric and piperine in black pepper have been shown to improve health due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and disease-fighting qualities." as quoted in Healthline.
- Fresh cilantro - I love the flavor of cilantro and is great for digestion and gut health. It's not everyone's favorite herb. I get that. Good news is parsley is also packed with nutrients and makes a great substitution. Fresh dill and/or basil would also be delicious additions.
Please refer to the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to make this recipe
Step one - Fry leeks and celery until beginning to soften. Add the vegetables, turmeric, garlic, beans, and broth.
Step 2 - Stir and bring everything to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and continue simmering until vegetables are tender.
Step 3 - Stir in spinach and continue cooking until spinach is soft and wilted.
Step 4 - Turn off the heat and stir in cilantro, coconut milk, and fresh lemon juice. Taste and add salt and freshly ground pepper as needed.
Please see full instructions in the recipe card below.
Variations
Switch up the veggies - So many veggies would work well in this soup. You want 6 to 8 cups of chopped veggies in any combination. Here are a few ideas:
- Broccoli
- Shredded cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Green beans
- Green peas
- Bell peppers
- Zucchini
- Tomatoes - fresh or canned
- Corn
- Ginger - not a veggie but would also be a delicious addition plus it's great for digestion!
Make it smooth - Do you prefer a smooth. creamy soup? Or maybe you want to hide all those healthy ingredients from picky eaters. No problem - use a blender or hand-blender to puree the soup. Blending it only partially will give you the best of both worlds!
FAQ's and Expert Tips
Because this soup doesn't have any meat or dairy it can last up to a week in the fridge.
Chop all the vegetables approximately the same size to ensure even cooking. Same size pieces also gives soups more visual and textural appeal.
Absolutely! In fact it's highly recommended. That way you have some to enjoy later when you might not feel like cooking.
Tried this recipe? I would love it if you could leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and/or a comment below. You can also follow me on social media here on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Want to say thank you?📖 Recipe
Detox Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 leeks, thinly sliced, white and light green parts only, 4 cups
- 2 celery stalks diced small, 1 cup
- 2 large carrots, peeled and diced small, 2 cups
- 1 small head cauliflower, chopped small, 4 cups
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 x 2-inch pieces fresh turmeric peeled and finely grated, 2 tbsp. or 2 teaspoon dried
- 1 540 ml can white beans, 14 oz or 2 cups, drained and rinsed
- 8 cups vegetable broth, low or no sodium
- 4 cups spinach, 128g / 4.5oz
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 400 ml can coconut milk, 13.5 oz/1.5 cups
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, ½ a lemon
- 2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add carrots, cauliflower, garlic, fresh turmeric, white beans, salt and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat, cover, and continue simmering until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in spinach and continue simmering for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in coconut milk along with chopped cilantro or parsley, and fresh lemon juice. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
jennifer says
This recipe was great but took me 3x the amount of time to prepare than you suggest. Tons of washing and chopping
Andrea says
Thanks for letting me know. The prep time will be different for everyone depending on many things but after checking the prep time I do agree that 20 mins is most likely less time than the average person would need. I will make an adjustment. Thanks for the heads up and happy you enjoyed the soup!
Audrey says
Love this soup and will definitely remake it. I used the suggested vegetables in the recipe but will try different ones next time. Very tasty, a very good overall vegetable soup, even if you're not looking to detox.
Sharon says
This Detox soup was really tasty and perfect after too much birthday cake! For a vegetarian soup it is very satisfying and I loved the addition of coconut milk which added some creaminess. Will be making this soup often!
Lori R DiPasquale says
What would be a good substitution for the coconut milk? Thank you!
Andrea says
Hi Lori! You can either leave it out or substitute with heavy cream. If you partially puree the soup you can achieve a creamy texture without the use of cream, milk or dairy. Hope you enjoy it!
Allison says
Delicious, Just what I needed right now. Used a jar of puréed Tumeric and added a small knuckle of grated ginger.
Heather says
5 stars again! Have had my eye on this recipe and made it for company last night. Thoroughly enjoyed the flavours. Will have this on repeat. 🥰
Andrea says
Fantastic! I'm so happy to hear that and that you all enjoyed it! Thanks Heather!
Kiki says
I made this soup today as I had most of the ingredients on hand. I didn’t have cauliflower, so I added a can of chickpeas and some frozen broccoli I needed to use up. Also didn’t have any cilantro (darn) so I added extra spinach. I also added a bit of miso to the broth. Delish and I will definitely make it again! (With the cilantro)
Andrea says
Hi Kiki! I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup and I love the additions and substitutions, especially the miso paste! More good food for the gut 🙌
Johanna Masko says
I made this over the weekend- it’s delicious! I didn’t have the turmeric so I left it out and used parsley instead of the cilantro. You’re right- it does have a freshness to it- filling but not heavy. Will definitely make it again!! Thank you!
Andrea says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Johanna! Thanks for commenting!
Marylynn says
Great soup, what a good way to clean out the vegetable drawer. The coconut milk and lemon added so much flavor a definite make again.
Kim says
Beautiful recipe! I cut it in half and added chickpeas instead of white beans. And I put half through the blender so you could still see chunks of veggies. Delicious! and very filling!
Andrea says
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Love the alterations. Thanks for the comment!
Allison Arnott says
Delicious and perfect for my first New Years batch of soup. I can feel the effects of the holidays melting away... 😉
Andrea says
I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup Allison and thanks for commenting!
Lisa Fleet says
Love, love, love this soup Andrea! I added garlic scapes to the mix today and substituted summer savoury for cilantro. Delish!
Andrea says
Oooh that sounds delish! So happy you enjoyed it!
Ann says
Very yummy soup and easy to make! The only tip I have, as this is my first time using "fresh" tumeric is that it stains everything! So, like beets, I would wear gloves when handling tumeric as it stained my hands and kitchen equipment all yellow. Live and learn 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Ann! I'm so happy you enjoyed the soup! Try lemon juice or apple cider vinegar mixed with a little baking soda for your cutting board and fingers. Hand sanitizer also works. Hope that helps!
Corinne Depatie Duncan says
Thank you again Andrea another great recipe ,my family loved it
it was delicious and so easy to make.
Andrea says
My pleasure and I'm so happy you and the family enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting!
Gayla says
Excellent soup. Really good if you just want something light but tasty.
Beatrice Schori says
What a delicious soup! Holy cow. The whole family enjoyed it.I used fresh organic turmeric and light coconut milk.
Thank you for this amazing recipe.
Andrea, you are the best.
Andrea says
My pleasure! I'm so happy you enjoyed it and thanks so much for commenting.
Franca says
This soup is deliciously soothing. It is so flavourful and light. I was able to make it in no time and my whole family loved it. My husband actually had seconds. The only change I made was to use parsley instead of cilantro. This one is a keeper.
Cecile Allard says
Excellent taste, texture, ingredients! 10 star recipe!
Shauna says
Loved it!! You have the best recipes!!
Ana da Rosa says
Awesome!!!
Thank you sooo much for your recipes… now all I have to think about is what I feel like eating and grab one of your recipes… everyone I’ve made have been delicious 😋
Andrea says
My pleasure Ana! I'm so happy you are enjoying the recipes! 😊
Marlene Marchand says
My new favorite soup....so good! Thanks for another great one Andrea!
Andrea says
My pleasure! So happy you enjoyed it!
Jennifer says
Love this soup! I used corn and mushrooms instead of the cauliflower and it is divine! Another home run Andrea!
Andrea says
Love the substitutions! So happy you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting!
Anita says
I have made this soup twice…love it!! I purée it so it’s like a creamy soup. I also add cubes of cooked chicken for added protein.
I’ve also added broccoli to use up stuff in the fridge. Yummy!!
Jo-Ann says
Another 5 star recipe from Andrea! Delicious combination of flavours and you are so right in suggesting to use fresh tumeric!
Linda says
Thanks Andrea for another yummy healthy recipe. I finally made it tonight, but because I am in Mexico and couldn't find coconut milk or white beans easily and had a guest bring some just to try it. (I substituted beans for chickpeas). I had some cabbage needing using up so I added it thinking it was still a leafy green, and threw in a handful of spinach for the fun of it. It really is a super easy soup. I pureed most of it and the texture is divine.So it may no longer seem like your recipe but the proportions were similar so just a few variations. What I like is that you can really use what you have in the fridge, so recipe will become part of my repertoire in the future.
Andrea says
I Absolutely love that you used what you had on hand! That's what's so great about many soup recipes and why I love them so much! So happy you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting!
Fay says
Delisoius Andrea. Really needed this detox soup.
Roberta Martenfeld says
Another fabulous recipe from Andrea! I made this yesterday and we all loved it. I substituted bok choy greens for spinach and, as per Andrea's suggestion, sautéed the white ends with the vegetables. In addition, my family does not like cauliflower, so I used one can of corn. Amazing taste and consistency. Thank you, Andrea, for these recipes which make life easier, and tastier, especially for those of us who are not particularly creative or proficient in the kitchen.
Andrea says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Roberta! Love the substitutions you made as well!
Deborah says
Made this for dinner and everyone LOVED it. Quick & Delicious 😋
Gillian says
This soup is excellent! Made it last night and it is so hearty! I felt so healthy eating is and I plan on freezing it in lunch size portions for work, so handy! I used frozen cauliflower and frozen spinach, both convenient and tasted great!
Evelyn Young says
This soup sounds wonderful and I will make it later however I wonder if I can add 1 or 2 chicken breasts to it then flake the meat when it is cooked. I make another soup that is similar but has chicken in it instead of beans. I would keep the beans though here just add chicken for even more protein. I am on Gina's program so I think this fits in wonderfully with it. Thanks, Evelyn
Andrea says
Hi Evelyn!
Yes you can absolutely do that! Be sure to let me know how it turns out!
Adelia says
My absolutely new favorite soup. So healthy and tasty and easy to make. Thanks Andrea!
Kim Moran says
Another winner.....so delicious and filling. Thanks again!
Dale says
So good! I love this recipe and will be sure to make it often. A great way to use the veggie bits in the fridge!
Annabel Quinn says
for a detox soup I felt like I was having luxury in a bowl. I ended up using my emulsifier and sprinkled a little bit of cheese on top… Negate in the detox part. Nevertheless, it was fantastic and all of the ingredients were so fresh and pure. Well done!
Sue says
Thanks again Andrea. This is my new favourite soup
Lee-Anne Wilson says
Absolutely delicious. Added a 1/4 tsp of cumin. Served this half puréed to company on a cold January night, the loved it!
Mary says
Just made this soup today. Omg ! Probably my new favourite soup ever!!
So delicious and satisfying, creamy and so tasty!! Thankyou Andrea!
Heidi says
Absolutely fabulous. I can see this becoming a regular for us. I need something to get back on track, and this looks like it'll do the trick. Thanks Andrea.
Andrea says
My pleasure Heidi! So happy you enjoyed it!
Molly says
Delicious! Just what I need in January.
lorie says
LOVE fridays cause it's the start of weekend and Andrea's recipe of the week comes out. This was DELICIOUS and as are all of Andrea's recipes so easy to make
thanks andrea (love ALL your recipes)
Andrea says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Lorie! Thanks for commenting!
Barbara Carroll says
Easy and very tasty