This creamy leftover roast vegetable soup is perfect for making with the leftover vegetables from a roast dinner. It's so tasty you'll want to cook extra veggies in future!
I love all the roast dinners at this time of year. I love chicken, beef and turkey roast dinners and of course I love my Christmas dinner! And how do I like my vegetables? Roast of course! Roasted vegetables have so much more flavour than boiled vegetables.
There's just one problem?
What to make with leftover roast vegetables?
It's such a shame to see the leftovers go to waste. Roasted vegetables are at their best when they are freshly made but that's no excuse not to use them up later.
I love to heat them up with some stock and blend them to make a smooth creamy leftover roast dinner soup. I'll give you my recipe below but here are a few more ideas for what to do with cold leftover roast vegetables:
- They are great fried up in a bubble and squeak. Just think of all the extra caramelisation on those extra crispy bits!
- Get a couple of tortillas, grate some cheese and dump the leftover plus cheese between the tortillas and fry them in a dry frying pan. These leftover vegetable tortillas are quite addictive!
- Make a big frittata and add all the leftover vegetables.
- Make them into leftover roasted vegetable gnocchi.
I'm sure there are many more things you can do with them. Let me know if you've got some great ideas.
Why leftover roasted vegetables are great in soup!
One reason why I love to make soup with leftover roasted vegetables is that it's just so easy and it doesn't really matter how much of everything you've got. I've used carrots, sweet potatoes and potatoes in this soup. I often add parsnips too!
Ok, I have included a recipe below for this soup but you don't really need one.
One thing I love to have in this soup is leftover roasted potatoes. Normally, I don't like cold leftover roasted potatoes BUT add them to a soup and they thicken it and give it the most deliciously creamy texture. Yes, you need leftover roasted potatoes in this soup!
Trust me, once you've tried this soup you'll want to make extra vegetables just to make sure you have enough leftovers. You might even make it a tradition to make soup with your leftover Christmas dinner every year. Why not check out some of these ideas for recipes to make with Christmas leftovers?
But what about the leftover turkey?
I didn't say you couldn't add that too! Leftover roast meat makes a great soup topping! This recipe is just perfect for making with both Christmas dinner and Thanksgiving dinner leftovers. Or just any old Sunday lunch leftovers!
Do you need lots of ingredients for this leftover roast vegetable soup?
I know the temptation to add lots of ingredients, especially herbs and spices to make something taste great. Of course there's nothing wrong with that but this soup has been pared back to the basics of roasted root vegetables and stock. Good stock.
That means if you want an easy meal made from leftovers you don't need to do much besides turning on the gas and then picking up a hand blender!
Homemade stock or a stock cube?
I'm not going to get into this argument.
If you want you can make your own stock and I do admire people who do. Personally, for everyday home cooking I usually use a stock cube as it means I can quickly mix up exactly the amount I need. For this soup I wanted a Christmas flavour and used turkey stock. However, you can use chicken, beef or vegetable stock.
It does not matter!
The bacon topping for this Roasted veggie soup
I should mention the bacon. I find root vegetables can be a little sweet in a soup if you don't balance them out with something salty or bitter. That's why the bacon pieces on the top of this root vegetable soup are so much more than just a garnish. The salty smokiness really adds to the flavour of the soup, even if you only use a little.
What other toppings can you put on this roast vegetable soup?
Any leftover roast meat also makes a great soup topping. If you're making this soup with Christmas dinner leftovers then any uneaten sausages wrapped in bacon also make a great garnish.
If you want to keep it vegetarian then just use croutons, sour cream or a little diced parsley instead. Of course, if you are keeping this soup vegetarian then use a vegetable stock too.
How to Make Leftover Roasted Veg Soup Step by Step
Can you batch cook this soup?
If you've got enough leftovers to make a great big batch of soup then go ahead! Just up the amount of stock. I know that soup thickness preferences can vary so don't stick rigidly to the quantities in the recipe.
If you really love this soup then why not roast a big batch of vegetables just so you can make it? After all, sometimes you just don't have enough leftovers.
Storing the leftover soup
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Just reheat thoroughly in the microwave or on the hob until piping hot.
You can also freeze the leftovers. Defrost and then reheat as above before cooking. You may sometimes need to add a little extra stock when reheating. If you don't have stock then a splash of water and some black pepper are a great alternative.
Recipe
Roast Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
- 150 g roasted potatoes
- 120 g roasted sweet potatoes
- 120 g roasted carrots or parsnips
- 700 ml Turkey Stock
- 30 g smoked bacon lardons
Instructions
- Roughly chop the roasted vegetables.
- Put the vegetables and stock in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Fry the bacon until crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.
- Put the soup in a blender and blend until smooth or use a stick blender.
- Serve the soup topped with the bacon pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
More Soup Recipes
Why not check out my recipe collection for easy homemade soups?
Soups are the perfect meal for colder weather: easy to make, comforting and healthy too. They are also great for batch cooking.
If you are looking for more batch cooking inspiration then do check out my Cook Once Eat Twice page as well.
One soup I think you'll really like is my leftover ham soup!
Ambrosius
OK, get this. You take some roasted vegetables. You add chicken or vegetable stock. You heat up and mash. And then you have soup! SO EASY! I am planning on doing this every single time I have leftover roasted vegetables. And on that note, I plan on making many other roasted vegetable recipes JUST so I have leftovers with which to make soup.
Corina Blum
I think that's a brilliant plan! I often make extra roasted vegetables so I can enjoy the leftovers in soup.
Rebecca - Glutarama
What a wonderful way to use up those leftovers...I always over estimate on roasties and parsnips and carrots for some reason! I've made a chicken soup recently in the same vein, chuck it in and whizz it up - this type of food always tastes best because you know you;re being resourceful too.
Corina Blum
I sometimes add leftover meat and leftover gravy too! It can turn out a bit brown but still tastes good. It's definitely good to know you're being resourceful.
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
Such a great idea and so easy peasy - love the addition of the bacon too 😀 Eb x
Corina Blum
Oh the bacon makes it so good! I love the little salty kick it gives the soup.
Michelle Rolfe
Soup is always my go to with leftovers. I never have leftover roast potatoes though as they are grazed on all night by everyone in my house:-) But I like the idea of cooking extra veggies just to make a soup too. Thanks for sharing with #CookBlogShare. Michelle x
Corina Blum
I do definitely have to make sure I make lots of roast potatoes just so I've got enough to make this later!
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
Such a brilliant way of using up leftover roast veggies and such a quick soup too! I think it's even worth roasting a bit more to be able to make it, I know I will!
Corina Blum
I do usually try to roast more than I think we'll need! I find it hard to stop eating roasted veggies though!
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
What a tasty way to use up leftovers, I really hate waste too so bookmarking this one
Corina Blum
I'm glad you like it Kat!
Chloe Edges
Sweet potato, carrot and parsnip soup is my favourite soup in the world!
Corina Blum
Oh I love parsnips in soup too! I often add them to this one if we have any roast parsnips left after a roast dinner!
Cat | Curly’s Cooking
You don’t like leftover roast potatoes?! They’re my favourite! I always make more so I have some to eat cold the next day. Love the sound of this soup. It’s such a great idea and like you said roasted vegetables do taste delicious!
Corina Blum
Oh no, I don't like cold roast potatoes! I don't mind them microwaved with leftover gravy though. Usually because we all love roast potatoes there aren't any leftovers so I have to make way more than I think we'll eat to be sure of having any.
Eb Gargano
What a great idea - love the idea of using bacon to balance out the flavour. Merry Christmas! Eb x
Corina
Thank you Eb!
hijackedbytwins
Soup is my favourite way to use up leftovers, that and a curry! Leftover soup is always so tasty! This one looks yummy!
Corina
You're welcome! A curry is also a real favourite of mine. Perfect for using up vegetables at the bottom of the vegetable drawer.
Mandy Mazliah
What a brilliant way to use up leftovers. For a veggie version I sometimes add a little grated parmesan to the top of soups like this to balance out the sweetness.
Corina
Thank you! I'll have to try adding a little parmesan next time as I've already made this soup again since posting this!
Culinary Flavors
What a delicious way to use leftovers!
Corina
Thank you!
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed
Such a delicious looking soup Corina, I like the sound of the bacon to balance the flavours. A great way to use up leftovers.
Corina
Thank you Sarah!