Five Warming Winter Soups to Try This Season

We’ve all been there – it’s a frigid winter evening, you’re cuddled up in your favorite blanket, and the only thing that could perfect this moment would be a steaming bowl of comforting goodness. Yes, it’s a warm bowl of hearty soup that we’re talking about. But not the can-of-soup kind or the takeout variety – though they may seem convenient, they are often loaded with preservatives and sodium.

Think fresh, wholesome, simmered to perfection, and oh-so-delicious. Homemade soups are the real deal. It’s like a hug in a bowl, a liquid sweater, a cuddly friend who keeps you warm.

So, roll up your sleeves and twirl your ladles to prepare these five warming winter soups that will become your favorites this season.

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Carrot Ginger Soup

This creamy and healthy soup is the perfect pick-me-up on a chilly day and tastes heavenly.

You need:

• Carrots
• Vegetable oil
• Yellow onion
• Broth (chicken or vegetable)
• Water
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Apple cider vinegar
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Chives

Set your oven to preheat at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place finely chopped carrots on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil, kosher salt, and ground black pepper, and start roasting. While that’s happening, sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger, then add the broth, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer (10 minutes).

Add roasted carrots. Simmer for another couple of minutes. Puree veggies, and lastly, add vinegar. Boil well before serving.

You can also cook all vegetables on a stovetop if you don’t like the roasting method. Follow this carrot ginger soup recipe for the perfect winter warmer.

Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup

There’s something about chicken noodle soup that screams comfort. 

You need:

• Whole chicken
• Bay leaves
• Carrots
• Celery
• Yellow onion
• Thyme leaves
• Large egg noodles (or wheat noodles)

Boil water, add chicken with salt and bay leaves, and simmer for an hour. Add diced carrots, celery, onion, and thyme leaves. Simmer to infuse flavors. Drain broth, debone chicken, and reserve both. Return broth to pot simmer. Add noodles, cook till al dente. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and simmer. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

Butternut Squash Soup

What good is winter without this sweet, nutty, and velvety smooth soup?

You need:

• Butternut squash
• Vegetable oil
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper
• Onion
• Garlic clove
• Vegetable broth or chicken broth
• Water

Bake whole butternut squash (30 minutes), peel, and remove seeds and dice. In a pot, heat oil and sauté onion till translucent. Add garlic, squash cubes, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 10 minutes. Pour in broth and water. Boil, then simmer (10 minutes). Puree soup (optional) and cook more in the pot.

Garnish with croutons or pumpkin seeds before serving.

Chili Con Carne Soup

This hearty and spicy meaty soup is yummilicious to the core.

You need:

• Ground beef
• Chopped onion
• Bell peppers (red, green, yellow)
• Garlic cloves
• Canned kidney beans
• Tomato sauce
• Diced tomatoes with green chilies (optional)
• Chili powder
• Cumin
• Dried oregano
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

In a pot, brown meat with onion and peppers. Drain the fat. Add garlic, beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (optional), chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve hot with toppings of your choice, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or diced avocado.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup 

Its creamy, rich texture and savory flavor are everything you need on a chilly night.

You need:

• Cauliflower
• Olive oil
• Garlic cloves
• Onion
• Vegetable or chicken broth
• Salt and pepper 
• Almond milk
• Nutritional yeast
• Fresh parsley

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Spread cauliflower florets on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper – roast for at least 20 to 25 minutes. In a large pot, sauté diced onion and minced garlic in olive oil. Add roasted cauliflower and broth, and boil it for about 5 minutes. Cool it down, put it in a blender, add almond milk and nutritional yeast, and blend until smooth. Top it off with fresh parsley before serving.

Wrapping Up

Whether it’s the comforting Chicken Noodle Soup acting as a warm hug in a bowl, the Butternut Squash Soup serving up a sweet and velvety escape from the chill, or the Chili Con Carne Soup bringing some much-needed heat with its fiery persona, these recipes are about as close to a magic potion for winter blues as you can get.

Or, if you crave something more filling, prepare the carrot ginger soup and gloat over a steaming bowl of deliciousness. Roasted cauliflower soup is another winter favorite you don’t want to miss.

Prepare these delicious soups at any time of the day. Be it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as a mid-day snack, and slurp away to an ultimate winter delight.