Wash and chop vegetables such as onion, carrot, potato, and celery.
Heat olive oil in a pot and sauté onion and garlic first.
Add the remaining vegetables like carrot, potato, and celery, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
Pour in water or vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
Season with bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes until the vegetables become tender.
Remove the bay leaf and blend the soup if you prefer a smooth texture.