SOUP is my favorite food group! It is delicious, hot on a cold day, easy to make with ingredients I have on hand, allows me to be creative without much, if any, risk, and is ALWAYS satisfying.
Since today is cold and January is NATIONAL SOUP MONTH, I think that it is a great time to share my favorite recipes for this amazingly nutritious meal. So whether you like it, brothy, creamy, cheesy, full of veggies, spicy, quick and easy or a little more complex–look no further. You will find what you crave here.
Chicken Enchilada SOUP
This recipe is one of my favorites! It is delicious and is filled with the most wonderful textures--a satiny broth topped with a satisfying CRUNCH! Easy to make and feeds a crew.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cooked and shredded
- 1 tbsp avocado oil or other neutral cooking oil
- ½ cup onion diced
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 quart chicken stock
- 1 cup masa harina
- 3 cups water divided
- 1 cup red enchilada sauce
- 2 cups extra-sharp cheddar shredded
- 1 tsp kosher salt or to taste
- 1 tsp chili powder or to taste
- ½ tsp ground cumin
Instructions
- Cook onion and garlic in oil until onions are translucent. Add chicken stock and 1 cup water.Mix masa harina with 2 cups water until well blended and add to pot along with enchilada sauce and seasonings. Bring to boil.Add cooked chicken and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 30-40 minutes until thickened.Add shredded cheese and stir until melted. Serve with additional cheese, crumbled tortilla chips and cilantro.
Asparagus, Leek and Potato Soup
Silky, smooth and satisfying! This soup is incredibly light and fresh with only one tablespoon of butter - no cream or milk! It is deceptively easy to make and is one of my 'go-tos' when I want to serve something elegant and delicious.
Equipment
- Immersion Blender
Ingredients
- 2 leeks rinsed and drained and cut into ¼" slices
- 1 small shallot diced
- 2 large stalks of celery thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 4 medium potatoes peeled and cut into 1" dice
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1½ tsp kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- 1 tsp onion salt
- ¼ tsp celery salt
- ¼ tsp granulated garlic
- ¼ tsp dried french thyme
- ⅛ tsp dried sage
- 20 spears asparagus
Instructions
- Melt butter in a heavy pot and sauté leeks, onions, and celery over medium heat until vegetables are soft and translucent.Turn heat to high and add potatoes to pan along with seasoning and chicken stock.Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to medium. Cook until potatoes are tender. (approx. 5 minutes). While potatoes are cooking, snap off the tough ends from the asparagus spears and cut the remaining spears into 1" pieces, reserving the asparagus tips separately.When potatoes are just tender, remove 2 cups of the soup mixture from the pot and set aside.Add the asparagus stems and cook until tender.Using an immersion blender, purée the soup until smooth. Add back the 2 cups of reserved soup and stir in the reserved asparagus tips. Cook uncovered on a low simmer until asparagus tips are tender crisp.Serve with freshly baked, crusty bread!
Creamy Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
This is a soup inspired by Ina Garten's Roasted Tomato Basil Soup. It is bright, flavorful and satisfying. For the perfect winter time lunch, serve it with a crunchy/gooey Sharp Cheddar and Prosciutto Panini OR make up a batch of fluffy popovers to serve alongside as a first course.
Servings 8
Equipment
- Food mill fitted with coarsest blade
Ingredients
- 3 lbs ripe plum tomatoes cut in half lengthwise
- ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 tbsp Crystal Diamond Kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 28-oz canned plum tomatoes with their juice
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves roughly chopped
- ⅛ cup dried basil leaves
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 quart chicken stock
- ½-1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F. Lay tomatoes cut side up in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle ¼ cup olive oil evenly over each tomato and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Roast for 45 minutes.
- Put 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter into a large stockpot over medium high heat. Add onions, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent and begin to brown.
- Add the canned tomatoes with their juices, fresh and dried basil, fresh thyme, chicken stock and the roasted tomatoes with all the liquid on the baking sheet. Simmer uncovered for 40 minutes and pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Add cream and adjust seasoning to taste.
Notes
You can use a blender or stick immersion blender to purée this soup, but the food mill creates a wonderful and even consistency and texture that takes it from good to gorgeous.
Lisa's Spicy and Spectacular Minestrone
I came up with this recipe 25+ years ago. My 'secret ingredient' is SPICY V-8 juice. It absolutely takes a good soup to greatness! Every time I have made this over the years, people would ask me for the recipe, so it has been 'out there' for quite a long time. In fact, one of my colleagues published it in her church cookbook, (with my blessing). 😉 One last thing--you can use whatever pastas and vegetables you have on hand.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage, cooked and drained I use half sweet and half hot Italian sausage
- 2 cans beef consommé may substitute vegetable, chicken or beef broth
- 1 large bottle Spicy V-8 juice this is the SECRET ingredient!
- 1 can garbonzo, small white, kidney or black beans
- 1 can diced tomatoes with juices
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 2 carrots sliced or diced
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- zucchini, yellow squash, cauliflower, potatoes cut into bite size pieces
- black olives optional
- cheese tortillini, broken lasagna noodles, penne, etc. Cooked and reserved
- Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- Fresh basil leaves torn
Instructions
- Brown Italian Sausage with olive oil in heavy pan over medium high heat.Add and sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.Add beef consommé, (or broth), V-8 juice, tomatoes, celery, carrots, potatoes and seasonings and cook for about 20 minutes. Add squash, (if using), black olives, (if using), and beans to warm through.Place cooked pasta in serving bowls, ladle the soup over the pasta and top with freshly torn basil leaves and parmesan cheese. Serve with warm, crusty bread.
Italian Wedding Soup
The naming of Italian "wedding soup" is a mistranslation of the Italian language phrase "minestra maritata", which is a reference to the Italian aristocracy marrying off its women with feasts, usually having this soup included in the banquet. In any case, this recipe is most definitely deserving of a place at the most festive of tables.
Ingredients
Mini-Meatballs
- 1 large egg beaten
- 2 tbsp chives chopped
- 1 tsp sage or 2 tsp fresh, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 12 ounces ground beef
- 8 ounces Italian sausage removed from the casings
- ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese ground or grated
- ⅓ cup Dried bread crumbs Italian seasoned
- ½ tsp Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
Soup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 large bay leaf
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounces Acini di Pepe or other small pasta, uncooked
- 6 ounces fresh baby spinach chopped
- Parmigiano Reggiano grated for serving
Instructions
Mini-Meatballs
- Place meatball ingredients into a large bowl and mix with your hands and until well combined.Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Roll the meat mixture into 1 inch balls and place in pot to brown on all sides. (May need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your pot). Remove from pot and set aside.
Soup
- Add onions, carrots and celery to the pot and soften over medium heat until softened--about 7 or 8 minutes.Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute.Add wine and allow to reduce while you stir up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add stocks, water, meatballs, bay leaf, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon white pepper. Bring to boil and reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Prepare pasta separately, according to directions. Drain and add to serving bowls.Remove soup from burner and add spinach to the pot. Allow the spinach the wilt for a couple of minutes and then ladle into the bowls, on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano and serve.
30 Minute Chili
This fast, easy and delicious chili comes together quickly when you use canned kidney beans. It takes a little longer if you opt to cook them, either in the instant pot or on the stove top. It is on the spicy side as written, so if you prefer a more mild chili, start with 1/2 tsp each of cumin, cayenne and chili powder and increase to taste.
Servings 6
Equipment
- Instant Pot (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 lb hamburger browned and drained
- ½ lb left-over brisket optional
- 2½ tbs olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 6 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground cayenne
- 1 cup beef broth homemade is ideal
- 4 cups cooked kidney beans or 2-14.5 oz cans
- 2 cans diced tomatoes with juice 14.5 ounce cans
- 1 large green bell pepper diced
Instructions
Beans--skip this step if using canned kidney beans
- Prepare according to package directions OR
- Using an Instant Pot: rinse sort 1 lb of dried red kidney beans and place them into an Instant Pot, (you do not need to soak them first).
- Add 8 cups water and 1 tsp of saltCook on high pressure for 30 minutes and allow pressure to release naturally
- Brown and drain hamburger. (Since I just cooked up bacon for my double stuffed potato skins, I browned the burger in the rendered bacon grease for added flavor.)
- In a Dutch oven, sauté onion in olive oil until transparent. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add seasonings, broth, beans and meat. Bring to a simmer and cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.Add green pepper and cook for an additional 10 minutes.Serve with chopped green onions, cilantro, shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream.
Curried Lentil, Tomato, and Coconut Soup
This recipe is by Yotam Ottolenghi and was published in the December 2017 BON APPÉTIT. The curry adds a nice amount of warmth to the dish and the texture strikes the perfect balance. I have served this to guests and it is trouble free enough to make for a meatless Monday meal with sharp cheddar cheese and apple paninis to go alongside. DO AHEAD: Soup (without toppings) can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp virgin coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 (2½") piece ginger peeled and minced or finely grated
- 1 tbsp medium curry powder such as S&B
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup red lentils
- 1 14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup cilantro, finely chopped plus leaves with tender stems for garnish
- Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 13.5 oz can unsweetened coconut milk shaken well
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger, curry powder, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lentils and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
- Add tomatoes, ½ cup cilantro, a generous pinch of salt, and 2½ cups water; season with pepper.
- **Set aside ¼ cup coconut milk for serving and add remaining coconut milk to saucepan.
- Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft but not mushy, 20-25 minutes. Season soup with more salt and pepper if needed.
- To serve, divide soup among bowls. Drizzle with reserved coconut milk and top with more cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Notes
Before using the coconut milk, I place the can into a pan of hot water to make it easier to blend the solid coconut oil with the milk.
Zuppa Toscana
This flavorful and satisfying soup is just what you need on a cold winter day or evening, especially after skiing. (Trust me, I know).
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian Sausage I like it spicy
- 5 medium russet potatoes sliced in half and then in ¼" slices
- ½ large onion diced
- 5-7 slices bacon
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups kale chopped
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Crumble the sausage on to a baking sheet. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes or until no longer pinkPlace on a paper towel to drain
- Cook the bacon and crumble into small pieces. Remove the bacon from pan and sauté the onion in the drippings. Remove the onion with a slotted spoon and place into a heavy stock pot with potatoes, garlic, chicken stock and water.Bring to boil over medium high heat and cook until potatoes are just cooked through.
- Add sausage and red pepper flakes to the pot. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.Add in the kale, heavy cream and bacon. Heat through and serve with freshly grated Parmesan Romano Cheese and warm, crusty bread.
Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup
This delicious and satisfying classic soup is full of flavor, tender beef and perfectly cooked barley and made in (almost) an instant using the Instant Pot or any pressure cooker. A perfectly scrumptious, warm you up from the inside, meal! If you happen to have left-over London broil, just omit the beef stew meat and add your left-over London broil, (diced), instead.
Servings 6
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot or any pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 large yellow or sweet onion finely chopped
- 2-3 celery stalks, with inner leaves chopped
- 3 plump garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup carrots cut into small bite-size pieces
- 3 small Yukon gold potatoes peeled and cut into bite-size dice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp Better than Bouillon beef soup base
- 1 tsp kosher salt to taste
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1½ lbs beef stew meat cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 32 oz beef broth or stock
- 1 cup water more if needed
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to Sauté Mode. Add the oil and butter to pot and when butter has melted, add half of the beef. Season lightly with salt and pepper and allow to brown. Transfer the beef to a plate or bowl and brown the remaining beef in the same manner and transfer to plate when browned. ****If using left-over London broil, skip this step
- Add onions and celery to the Instant Pot and sauté until onions are translucent, approx. 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add approximately 1 cup of beef stock/broth to the pot. Stir and scrape bottom of pot to deglaze and incorporate browned bits.Cancel Sauté Mode.
- Add the onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and beef base -- stir to combine with the veggies.Add back the browned stew meat (or left-over London broil), potatoes, pearl barley, remaining beef stock and water.
- Close and lock the Instant Pot and set to "meat/stew" (or manual/pressure mode), high pressure, for 25 minutes.Do a quick release when time is up. After pressure has released, open the pot and add the carrots. Close the lid and allow to sit in "warm mode" for 10-15 minutes, until the carrots are crisp tender.Stir soup and taste for seasoning. Add salt, pepper and/or water if needed. Serve and enjoy.
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Creamy and satisfying, this is a "go-to" recipe anytime you have some left-over turkey or chicken breast.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 ribs celery with leaves finely diced
- 1 large carrot finely diced
- 1/2 medium onion finely diced
- 1 large clove garlic minced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme finely chopped
- Kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ⅛ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup wild rice well rinsed
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup water
- 2 cup left-over chicken or turkey breast cut or shredded into bite-size pieces
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large Dutchoven or pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic, thyme, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. Sauté over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften.Add flour to pan, stirring until the flour begins to lightly brown. Add rice, stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and slightly cover pot. Allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes.
- Add chicken or turkey, and continue to cook until the rice is fully cooked.Add cream and additional salt and pepper, if needed.Serve and enjoy!
Lisa's Ya-Ya Babes Seafood Gumbo
This gumbo is ALWAYS the star of the show. I served it at my Ya-Ya Babes BIG EASY party and have served it at many other gatherings over the years. The controversy between whether gumbo should have tomatoes in it or not is really about whether you are serving Cajun gumbo or Creole gumbo. Cajun gumbo does not (usually) have tomatoes in it and it often will include chicken and/or sausage. Creole gumbo does call for tomatoes and is typically made with shellfish or seafood. The acidity of tomatoes complements the seafood.
Equipment
- 1 heavy dutch oven I use a Le Creuset enameled cast iron dutch oven
Ingredients
Roux
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Gumbo
- 2 large onions medium dice
- 4 stalks celery medium dice
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1 16 ounce can whole tomatoes chopped
- 1 tsp (each) dried whole thyme, crushed red pepper, salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 7¼ cups chicken stock 58 ounces
- 2 lbs medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 lb fresh crab meat
- 1 lb sea scallops
Instructions
Roux
- Heat oil in a large dutch oven. Add flour and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the roux is the color of a copper penny. (This can take a while so be patient).
Gumbo
- Stir in onions and celery. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add next 6 ingredients and cook 10 minutes. Stir in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Simmer 35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat, add shrimp, scallops and crab, stir and cover the pot. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes or until the seafood is cooked through.
- Serve over cooked rice.
Have An Entertaining Day!
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