Why does my soup taste so bland? :-( please critique my recipe

[dottytablecloth]

I got a new soup cooker- it's fab and so easy to use.

However my soup is easy to make but it still tastes a bit bland.

I made sweet potato and red pepper with:

Sweet potato
Red pepper
Chicken stock
Onion
Baby tomatoes
Garlic
Chilli
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper

It was ok but not delicious! Any ideas what I could add to it?

A bit of sugar helps for tomato based soups

Much more salt than you think can possibly be healthy

A liberal pinch or two of some dried basil or thyme

When I make soup I simmer finely chopped veg in stock for 30 mins and then if I want a thick soup with lumps purée half and add back into mix, if I want a smooth soup purée all of it, if I want a broth type with veg in just serve as is.

One good smooth soup I like is cauliflower. Just simmer finely chopped onion and a head of finely chopped cauliflower in chicken or veg stock, with white pepper to taste for 30 mins. Then when done add double cream and purée and then reheat to bring back to temperature and serve. You can add some grated nutmeg on top if you like it.

I also like a minestrone style soup I cook. Simmer finely chopped onion, courgette, pepper, carrot and a handful of pasta shapes in beef or vegetable stock with about a table spoon of tomato purée and 2 tsp of green pesto and black or white pepper ( can add some Parma ham if you like it) for 30mins. Serve with grated parmazan on top.

My soups are popular with all my family. I think stock is the missing ingredient in your soup OP.

I added a tsp of cumin seeds and heated it up again for tea tonight and you know what it tasted much nice.

Also added more salt.

Served with bacon sandwiches and we all are full so must have been semi edible!