Lactose-Free Vegetable Soup

This is a straightforward vegetable soup built for a chilly evening: a handful of everyday vegetables sautéed briefly, then simmered in vegetable broth until everything turns tender. Dicing the vegetables to a similar size helps them all finish cooking at roughly the same time, so nothing turns mushy while the rest is still firm.

There's no cream or dairy anywhere in the pot, which makes it a naturally lactose-free option that's still warm and comforting. Using low-sodium broth also means you can control the salt level yourself rather than relying on a packaged base.

Ladle it hot into bowls as a light lunch, or serve it alongside a sandwich for something more filling. A squeeze of lemon just before eating brightens the broth nicely.