As a food blogger, coming up with recipes and flavor combinations and ingredients can get exhausting. So when a cookbook from a trusted author comes along, it’s a joyous relief. And I say “trusted” in the truest sense of the word, because if there’s anyone’s cooking I trust, it would be Laura Wright’s.
With a background in restaurants, Laura has a command of flavors and techniques that is uncommon in the food blogging world. Her blog, The First Mess, is a bastion of fine eating that stands out, rightfully, among the crowd. Her recipes are vegan, but that almost seems like an afterthought when you’re too busy enjoying the subtle nuances of flavor in her food. Tip: if you ever encounter someone who thinks that vegan or vegetarian food can’t be elegant, direct them to Laura’s blog.
But I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the person behind the food. Many of us food bloggers have role models who we look up to, whose blogs and recipes and photography we admire. Laura is one of those people to me. She had announced her cookbook’s existence in 2015, so when I received my first cookbook offer in 2016, Laura was the first person I looked to for advice. I’ll be totally honest, I was super nervous emailing her – it was like asking Stevie Nicks for singing tips. But Laura sent me back the most thoughtful, insightful email I could have hoped for, that must’ve taken her a long time to write. The whole email felt like a virtual hug, saying, you’ve got this, girl!
I could go on and on about how awesome I think Laura and her recipes are, but you can see it for yourself in her new cookbook, eponymously titled “The First Mess Cookbook“. Inside is a wealth of recipes, beautifully photographed, that will inspire you to cook and eat well. I would argue that you could actually become a better cook just by reading the methods in this cookbook. I already know that this book will be a staple in my kitchen!
Even though I bookmarked nearly every recipe to make, Laura’s Small Batch Roasted Soup stood out to me because of its elegant simplicity. Essentially, all you do is choose your favorite seasonal vegetables, roasted them with aromatics, then blend them up into a soup with beans and vegetable broth. So easy, but so full of flavor! For this recipe, I used leeks, celery, and kale, but you could use any vegetables you like. Which is something I love – autonomy in cooking. You can tailor the soup to your preferences, but you’ll still have Laura guiding you along the way. It’s really a beautiful thing!

Laura's Small Batch Roasted Soup
Ingredients
Small Batch Roasted Soup
- 2 Cups Seasonal Veggies chopped
- 1 Small Onion chopped
- 1 Clove Garlic peeled
- 2 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
- 1 Cup Cooked Beans like navy
- 1 1/2 Cups Vegetable Stock
- 2 Tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
To Serve
- Bread optional, Cooked Rice, Millet, Quinoa
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toss the chopped veg, chopped onions, and garlic clove with the olive oil and some salt and pepper. After the vegetables are evenly coated, slide the baking sheet into the oven.
- Roasted the veggies until the onions are browned slightly and your seasonal vegetables are softening. Asparagus or broccoli take about 15-20 minutes to cook, while sweet potatoes and squash take about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven when done.
- Place the roasted vegetables in a blender. Add the beans, vegetable stock, and lemon juice. Slowly bring the blender speed up to high, and keep blending until you have a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Pour the blended soup into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, uncovered. Check the soup for seasoning and adjust accordingly. Serve soup hot with bread on the side or cooked rice, millet, or quinoa on top.
- Enjoy!
Notes
The First Mess Cookbook
You can purchase The First Mess Cookbook here!
P.S.
For more information about affiliate links, please see my Disclosure!
20 Comments
Ruby
February 27, 2017 at 8:29 amLove the simplicity of this soup! Roasted veggie dishes like this are my go to when I am brain dead about what to make for dinner.
I truly cannot wait to get my hands on this book- I can tell already that I will be just like you, bookmarking everything. Laura is an inspiration! As are you!! xo
Sarah
February 27, 2017 at 11:21 amAwww thank you Ruby!! <3
Julia Mueller
February 27, 2017 at 11:06 amThis soup is gooooorgeous! You definitely did justice to Laura’s recipe. And I need to get my hands on that cookbook! I love Laura’s blog and would love to gather inspiration from her book – I agree it can be so nice to take a break from creating recipes yourself and try out other people’s ;) And digging the fact that this soup can be adapted using seasonal veggies any time of year. So brilliant!
Sarah
February 27, 2017 at 11:22 amThank you so much for your sweet note, Julia!! And I totally agree, I love how Laura made this soup adaptable for any time of year! :)
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health
February 27, 2017 at 4:53 pmI’m dying to get my hands on a copy of Laura’s book! Everything she does is stunning and I love her overall vibe. I think you just convinced me to buy it from Amazon, hehe!
Sarah
February 27, 2017 at 10:07 pmOh nice!! It’s an amazing cookbook, I know you’ll love it!! <3
Liz @ pumpkin & peanut butter
February 27, 2017 at 5:28 pmMust get this book! This recipe looks absolutely stunning and delicious. Can’t wait to check out more :)
Sarah
February 27, 2017 at 10:08 pmThanks Liz!! But seriously, my spin on this recipe is nothing compared to the rest of the book!!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
March 1, 2017 at 1:00 pmThis soup… Laura’s book! Both are gorgeous and inviting. You’ve photographed her recipe proud, Sarah… it is stunning, vibrant and luscious. I’ve yet to pick up a copy of her book, but it’s on the list! xo
Sarah
March 1, 2017 at 1:37 pmAww thank you so much for your sweet note, Traci!! Laura is one of my photography idols so your comment really does mean a lot to me :) :) :)
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Meg | Meg is Well
March 7, 2017 at 1:33 pmI’m still waiting for my copy to come! I can’t wait. That’s so exciting that you received a cookbook offer, congratulations! I love how velvety smooth and vibrant this soup looks-it’s stunning.
Sarah
March 7, 2017 at 1:54 pmThanks Meg! I know you’ll love Laura’s book :)
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Carlos At Spoonabilities
May 14, 2017 at 9:13 amThis soup is so pretty and sounds delicious!
Sarah
May 17, 2017 at 8:16 amThanks Carlos!! I can’t take credit though, it’s all Laura!!
Amanda
June 2, 2017 at 7:38 pmTry this with corona beans, they are giant white creamy beans that make this soup much smoother.
Sarah
June 8, 2017 at 12:50 pmOoh thanks for the tip, Amanda!! :)
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