25 Comforting Homemade Soups

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Chilly fall mornings and cold winter evenings–nothing brings comforting warmth straight to the bones like a piping hot bowl of homemade soup. It’s also a great way to use up vegetables and leftover meat (and get the last bit of goodness from a turkey or chicken carcass, ham or beef soup bone and a smart way to take advantage of unappealing cuts of meat that are pennies per pound).

Today’s Recipe Hit List features a nice ‘n hearty collection of recipes that I handpicked from around the net. I enjoy all kinds but prefer regular home fare so this list reflects that–no gourmet or fussy cream soups made the cut. I also added a few tips at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

By jamieoliver.com

1. Bread & Tomato: (as seen in picture) Tuscan soup made in just 20 minutes! Ingredients include cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, sea slat, freshly ground black pepper, canned plum tomatoes, water, stale good-quality bread. From Jamie Oliver.
2. Chicken Minestrone With Pesto: Ingredients include canned diced tomatoes, chicken broth, boneless, skinless chicken thighs, potato, chopped onion, cannellini beans, diced zucchini, frozen cut green beans (thawed), basil pesto. From Kitchen Daily.
3. World’s Easiest Supper: Taco Soup: Ingredients include ground beef, chopped onion, canned kidney beans, canned corn, Ro-Tel, tomato sauce, taco seasoning mix, ranch dressing mix and water. Found at Southern Plate.
4. Garlicky Tortellini, Spinach & Tomato: Ingredients include unsalted butter, garlic cloves, chicken broth, fresh or frozen cheese tortellini, canned diced tomatoes, fresh spinach, fresh basil, grated Parmesan. From Fine Cooking.
5. White Bean: Ingredients include chicken or vegetable broth, chopped yellow onion, smoked bacon or ham hock (optional), potatoes, carrots, celery, Great Northern beans, chopped kale or baby spinach, salt and pepper. From Whole Foods Market.
6. Moroccan Chicken: Ingredients include sweet paprika, ground cumin, ground coriander, boneless, skinless chicken breast, olive oil, chopped onions, minced garlic, saffron threads (optional), cayenne pepper, cinnamon stick, chicken stock, butternut squash, white mushrooms, grated carrots, lemon juice, fresh mint or parsley. From Andrea Meyers.
7. Lentil: Ingredients include yellow onion, carrot, celery, bacon strips, tomato paste, chicken stock, brown lentils, beluga lentils and seasonings. From Chez Us.
8. Chicken, Ranch & Rice: Ingredients include extra virgin olive oil, chopped onion, sliced carrots, chopped celery, minced garlic, boneless skinless chicken breasts, dry rice (steamed), chicken broth, dry ranch dressing seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, dijon mustard, Tabasco (or hot sauce). From Picky Palate.
9. Turkey: Ingredients include turkey broth and meat, carrots, onion, cubed potatoes or pasta, kale, olive oil, salt & pepper, grated cheese for serving (optional) and vegetables and herbs on hand (turnips, leeks, fennel, etc.). From Mixed Greens Blog.
10. Greek Lemon & Orzo: Ingredients include chicken broth, lemon peel & juice of lemon, bay leaf, saffron, orzo, eggs, hot sauce, flat leaf parsley, salt and freshly ground pepper, pita chips (for serving). From Rachael Ray.
11. Leek & Potato: Ingredients include sliced leeks, baking potatoes, water, salt, sour cream or creme fraiche (optional) black pepper. That’s it! From Serious Eats.
12. Greek Wedding: Ingredients include chicken stock, ground lamb or beef, flat leaf parsley, breadcrumbs, feta cheese, an egg, garlic cloves, fresh oregano, salt and pepper, orzo pasta, juice & grated peel of lemon, mint leaves. From Rachael Ray.
13. Chicken: Ingredients include fresh parsley, black peppercorns, bay leaf, fresh thyme, garlic clove, carrots, parsnips, onions, chicken, coarse salt. From Martha Stewart.
14. Vegetable With Orzo: Ingredients include red onion, diced carrot, red capsicum, diced celery, diced zucchini, large tomato, fresh peas, orzo and seasonings. From Cook (almost) Anything at Least Once.
15. Oxtail: Ingredients include oxtails, olive oil, sea salt, carrots, shallot, onion, water, bay leaves, diced squash, quartered button mushrooms. From Nikas Culinaria.
16. Garlic Lover’s White Bean: Ingredients include Great Northern beans, water, dried rosemary, dried thyme, fennel seeds, bay leaf, garlic cloves, turnips, potatoes, onions, carrots, fresh parsley, salt and pepper. Found At Farmgirl Fare.
17. Tomato: Ingredients include butter, chopped onions, minced garlic, canned tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream (optional), salt and pepper. Found at Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures.
18. Slow Cooked Beef, Barley, and Vegetables: Ingredients include browned beef, barley, beef stock or beef bouillon, Ro-tel tomatoes, chopped celery, chopped carrots, chopped onion, red potatoes or turnips, chopped squash, fresh or frozen green beans, garlic, freshly ground black pepper, fresh lemon juice and assorted vegetables you have on hand. Found at Plain Ol’ Food.
19. Baby Portabella Mushroom: Ingredients include olive oil, yellow onion, baby portabella mushrooms, water, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, baby spinach leaves and brown rice miso. Found at Dianne’s Dishes.
20. Cream of Mushroom: Ingredients include fresh button mushrooms, white onion, diced celery, chicken broth or stock, fresh milk, butter, flour, salt and pepper. Found at Bits of Taste.
21. Creamy Broccoli Cheese: Ingredients include butter, chopped onion, chopped celery, minced garlic, chicken stock, chopped broccoli, milk, flour, shredded sharp cheddar cheese and seasonings. Found at Alaina’s Favorite Recipes.
22. Autumn Chicken Meatball: Ingredients include olive oil, chopped red onion, minced garlic, sliced carrot, red potatoes, oregano, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, black pepper, chicken broth, water, orichiette pasta, chicken sausage. Found at 5 Star Meals In A 5 Foot Kitchen.
23. Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle: Ingredients include cut up chicken, water, chopped onion, salt, pepper, bay leaf, chopped carrots and celery, dried egg noodles and parsley. Found at Good Thymes & Good Food.
24. Spicy Veggie Beef: Ingredients include ground beef, diced onion, Rotel tomatoes, tomato sauce, frozen mixed veggies, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, chicken broth. Found at Diary of an Accidental Farm Wife.
25. Best French Onion: Ingredients include unsalted butter, yellow onions, water, dry sherry, low-sodium chicken broth, beef broth, fresh thyme, bay leaf, salt, pepper, baguette and shredded Gruyere cheese. Found at Cookography.

Did you know: Most homemade soups taste BETTER the second day! When refrigerated overnight, the ingredients have a chance to incorporate their flavors more richly into the soup.

Tips

A Great Way To Use Leftovers & A Welcome Meal During Cold Winter Months

1. Simmer slowly for hours rather than at a boil. This helps draw out the most flavor.
2. Use dried herbs rather than fresh since they hold their flavor during long cooking periods. If you wish to use fresh, add the herbs at the end of cooking time.
3. Add salt toward the end rather than at the beginning, you’ll lose flavor the longer it cooks.
4. Try incorporating mashed potatoes to make it nice and creamy, you can also use as a thickener.
5. Bulk up light versions with beans, rice, barley, potatoes, lentils, pasta.
6. Too much salt? Easy fix: toss in a peeled potato (cubed in 4) and cook for about 20 minutes. The potato will draw much of the salt.
7. If adding pasta, cook it separately first so there’s not as much starch added to the dish, add last. This is a great way to use up leftover pasta.
8. Fat not only adds unnecessary calories, it also dulls the flavor. After cooking, remove as much of the fat as possible by cooling the soup, refrigerate it then remove the fat hardened along the surface. If you want to enjoy a bowlful as soon as it’s done cooking, remove from heat and allow to sit for a few minutes then spoon off the fat collected at the top.
9. To avoid mushy veggies, add the longest cooking vegetables first, then the ones that take less time. Quick cooking veggies like peas and corn don’t need to be added until near the end.
10. Flavor kickers like red pepper flakes and garlic are a nice addition to many recipes. If you find a little “something” is needed, one of these might just do the trick.
11. Do you envy broth with a rich, clear color? Tip: strain through a few layers of clean cheesecloth first to get a clear broth.
12. Although fresh ingredients are best, get into the habit of keeping “bits” on hand. Keep a container in the freezer to add leftover bits of cooked meat and another for leftover veggies. Just add to stock and you have an easy, frugal meal.