Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (2024)

There are few things as comforting as a bowl of soup. Whether it's chilled and refreshing or warm and hearty, we can never get enough. And although we have a lot — seriously, a lot — of soup recipes, there are certain ones we always keep in our back pockets. So we asked our editors to pick some of their favorites from over the years, and their selections include everything from Basque garlic soup to creamy tomato soup and Korean rice cake soup. There are 13 total, and hopefully they'll become new favorites for you, too. Read on to find out how to make them all.

01of 13

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Cumin

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (1)

For this deeply satisfying soup, chefs Anna Trattles and Alice Quillet roast cauliflower with cumin seeds and curry powder to intensify the flavor, then simmer it with onion and water to make an unfussy, spice-inflected puree.

Get the Recipe

02of 13

Rocket Soup (Shorbat Jarjir)

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (2)

A blend of spinach, cilantro, and arugula anchors this delicate soup from Yasmin Khan, author of Zaitoun. Warming spices like nutmeg, allspice, and turmeric amplify the verdant flavors of the greens; a single potato adds light, silky texture; and a drizzle of olive oil and dollop of yogurt enrich the soup without weighing it down. Great soups are all about balance, and this one nails it.

Get the Recipe

03of 13

Sopa de Ajo (Basque Garlic Soup)

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (3)

"Basque Garlic Soup, or sopa de ajo, is a balm for a cold day," F&W food editor Kelsey Youngman writes. "It's a piping hot bowl of garlicky, smoky broth, filled with tendrils of eggs and thickened with bread, heightened with a splash of sherry vinegar. This version, from writer and cookbook author Marti Buckley, calls for bread that's very well-toasted — almost burnt — in olive oil to add body and roasted depth. The piquant broth is infused with an entire head of garlic. Best of all, it comes together in under an hour and tastes even better the day after it's made."

Get the Recipe

04of 13

Smoked Brisket Noodle Soup

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (4)

This down-home bowl comes from the brain of Griffin Bufkin, proprietor of Southern Soul Barbeque in St. Simons Island, Georgia, who showcases his restaurant's fantastic barbecued brisket in each smoky bite. Paired with tender egg noodles, okra, corn, and lima beans, this soup is perfect.

Get the Recipe

05of 13

Ribollita

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (5)

This Tuscan ribollita recipe from chef Adam Leonti yields six to eight servings. Be sure to have grated Parmesan cheese on hand for serving, as well olive oil for drizzling.

Get the Recipe

06of 13

Caldo de Pollo

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (6)

Barely covering the chicken legs with water, along with a few aromatics, produces a flavorful and rich chicken stock that's lightly spiced with jalapeños and sweet tomatoes. This version is pretty mild; if you want a spicier broth, use a paring knife to cut small incisions in each chile before adding them to the soup. Read John Paul Brammer's essay, "The Healing Magic of Caldo de Pollo."

Get the Recipe

"Everybody" Potato-Leek Soup

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (7)

You can serve this soup so many different ways: with a dollop of crème fraîche and smoked salmon, topped with roasted broccoli florets and shredded cheddar cheese, or simply plain, as it has a mellow, delicious flavor on its own. Left as a chunky-style soup, it eats like a chowder, while the pureed version has a silky and light texture rich enough to be served chilled, if desired. Read Emily Nunn's essay, "'Everybody Soup' Has Something for Everyone."

Get the Recipe

08of 13

Orzo and Chickpeas with Turmeric-Ginger Broth

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (8)

Coconut milk and fresh lime juice are natural partners to ginger and turmeric; here they come together to form a restorative tea-based broth that's delicious studded with chickpeas and pasta.

Get the Recipe

09of 13

Burmese Samusa Soup

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (9)

This vegan soup from Desmond Tan's Burma Superstar in San Francisco features a broth that's seasoned with black mustard seeds, cumin, and turmeric. Fresh cabbage, herbs, and chiles top each ample bowl, contrasting tender lentils and potatoes with a pleasing crunch.

Get the Recipe

10of 13

Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup)

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (10)

This soup, cookbook author Ann Taylor Pittman writes, is "great any time but especially on a chilly night when you crave a piping-hot bowl of brothy soup with alluring textures and rich, soulful flavors."

Get the Recipe

11of 13

Chicken Pozole Verde

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (11)

There are many variations of pozole, a traditional hominy-based Mexican stew closely associated with the Pacific-coast state of Guerrero. Culinary writer and cookbook author Anya von Bremzen's version, a green pozole, derives much of its flavor from tangy ingredients like tomatillos, cilantro, and green chiles.

Get the Recipe

12of 13

Collard Greens Ramen

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (12)

Chef Todd Richards is known for his personal, globally inspired take on Southern cuisine, and his Collard Greens Ramen is no exception. Riffing on a memorable bowl of yaka-mein he had as a child, Richards' soup begins with a pot of collards and a generous pour of bourbon, which cooks down into an intense potlikker. Shichimi togarashi, a Japanese spice blend of dried orange peel, ginger, sesame seeds, nori, and a mix of dried chiles, finishes off each bowl.

Get the Recipe

13of 13

Creamy Tomato Soup with Buttery Croutons

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (13)

This comforting, creamy tomato soup relies on pantry staples such as canned whole tomatoes, garlic, onion, and extra-virgin olive oil. Freshly made brown butter croutons add contrasting crunch and a touch of richness. Best of all, you can enjoy a bowl in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe

Our 13 Favorite Soup Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What was Julia Child's favorite soup? ›

Soup was one of Julia Child's favorite things to eat, and reportedly, her absolute favorite was vichyssoise. Leek and potato soup, known as potage parmentier in French, is a classic base soup recipe. What sets vichyssoise apart is the addition of cream—and the fact that it is traditionally served chilled.

What is the number one soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What soups are good for an upset stomach? ›

Here's our list of soups that put their feel-good magic to work!
  • Chicken Noodle Soup.
  • Asian-Inspired Zoodle Flu Buster Soup.
  • Harvest Vegetable Soup.
  • Butternut Squash Soup.
  • Tomato Basil Soup.
  • Coconut Curry Soup.
  • Creamy Corn and Potato Chowder.
  • Poblano Chicken Chowder.
Oct 19, 2023

How many soups are there? ›

There are more than 250 varieties of soups in various cuisines around the globe. Traditional south Indian dishes like sambar and rasam, too, can be put in the category of soups. The very humble rice water itself can be consumed as rice soup.

What was the meal that changed Julia Child's life? ›

For their first meal in France, Paul ordered oysters, sole meunière and a green salad. Child devoured the meal, calling it “perfection.” Alex Prud'homme, Child's grandnephew and cowriter of her memoir, “My Life in France,” opened the book with this now famous scene.

What is Julia Child's most famous dish? ›

Child's Boeuf Bourguignon recipe was featured in one of the earliest episodes of The French Chef and has become a classic among the many Child enthusiasts at GBH. In fact, GBH News host Henry Santoro concludes there's no better recipe for the dish.

What is the unhealthiest soup? ›

Just avoid these five soups listed below, and swap them out for the healthier alternatives we've provided:
  1. Clam chowder. Anything with the word "chowder" in it is probably going to be high in cream, fat, and calories. ...
  2. Potato soup. ...
  3. Lobster bisque. ...
  4. Chili. ...
  5. Broccoli and cheese soup.
Jan 12, 2012

What is the best soup to eat everyday? ›

6 delicious and healthy soups
  • Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
  • Green spring minestrone.
  • Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
  • Lamb shank and barley soup.
  • Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
  • Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
Apr 26, 2020

What is USA most popular soup? ›

Chicken Noodle Soup is the most popular soup in America. More than 28% of consumers choose clam chowder as their favorite kind of soup. The global soup market size was valued at USD 16.1 billion in 2018. Vegetable soup is the second most popular soup in the U.S after chicken noodle soup.

What is the best soup to eat when you have a cold? ›

Broth-based soups are helpful, as it's important to stay hydrated when you're not feeling well. Recipes like Baked Vegetable Soup and Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Kale are flavorful and comforting for days when you need an easy, delicious nutrition boost.

Which soup is best for a cough? ›

A chicken soup or broth is an excellent food to eat when you have flu. The steam from soup or broth speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose to relieve congestion. A healthy soup also helps reduce inflammation. Sipping hot soup enhances your immune system that guards against bacteria and viruses.

What soup is best for diarrhea? ›

Try light meals of clear soups, such as chicken soup or bouillon cubes dissolved in hot water. Drink plenty of fluids to replace what you are losing with diarrhea. Stay hydrated by sipping clear liquids throughout the day. High-protein foods, such as skinless chicken or scrambled eggs.

What is the oldest type of soup? ›

Americans eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup each year. How about the hippo variety? The earliest archaeological evidence for the consumption of soup dates back to 6000 BC, and it was hippopotamus soup.

What kind of soup does Olive Garden have? ›

Chicken & Gnocchi - A creamy soup made with roasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings and spinach. Pasta e fa*gioli - White and red beans, ground beef, fresh tomatoes and tubetti pasta in a savory broth. Minestrone (V) - Fresh vegetables, beans and pasta in a light tomato broth - a vegan classic.

What is the national soup of the United States? ›

In the U.S., gumbo is the top national soup, a thick spicy soup from Louisiana. Clam chowder is another.

What is Julia Child's favorite food? ›

Vichyssoise. Well-known as one of Julia Child's favorite dishes, this chilled leek and potato soup is startling in its simplicity. Aside from the leek, potato, and water, Child's version of the soup calls for barely any additional ingredients.

What was Julia Child's first meal? ›

She was in her late 30s and didn't know how to cook — at least not yet. Child and her husband, Paul, stopped for lunch at Restaurant La Couronne (“The Crown”) in Rouen, the capital of the northern region of Normandy. For their first meal in France, Paul ordered oysters, sole meunière and a green salad.

What was Julia Child's favorite restaurant in Paris? ›

Chez Georges is known as one of Julia Child's favorite restaurants, and I certainly know why! My boyfriend and I were two of the only tourists in the restaurant, and we were...

Did Julia Child use a lot of butter? ›

3. She used an exorbitant amount of butter — even later in life. According to PBS, Child used a whopping 753 pounds of butter during the time she filmed "Baking with Julia." That program aired for just four seasons, from 1996 through 1999, so that's a pretty impressive amount of dairy.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Golda Nolan II

Last Updated:

Views: 6270

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Golda Nolan II

Birthday: 1998-05-14

Address: Suite 369 9754 Roberts Pines, West Benitaburgh, NM 69180-7958

Phone: +522993866487

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Shopping, Quilting, Cooking, Homebrewing, Leather crafting, Pet

Introduction: My name is Golda Nolan II, I am a thoughtful, clever, cute, jolly, brave, powerful, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.