STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Lara Lee’s tom yum: Ready in 15 minutes, spicy and versatile with store-bought paste

• Felicity Cloake’s pumpkin classic: Balanced with stock and gentle aromatics

• Yotam Ottolenghi’s beetroot soup: Slow-roasted with saffron yogurt topping

• Hetty McKinnon’s turmeric broth: Energizing and ideal for low-motivation days

• Jack Monroe’s red bean soup: Simple, hearty, with fluffy dumplings and bacon

• Alice Zaslavsky’s shchi: Slavic cabbage soup that saves dying root vegetables

• Marc Kuzma’s French onion: A wine-laced, eight-ingredient wonder in 15 minutes

When the city turns gray and the chill sneaks into our bones despite layers and blankets, something shifts in the kitchen. Out go the salads and summer grills; in come simmering pots, fragrant steam, and the quiet clatter of ladles. Few meals are as satisfying in winter as a bowl of soup—nourishing, comforting, and brimming with whatever the season offers. It’s one of the rare dishes that heals both hunger and mood, spoon by spoon.

More than just a meal, soup is a ritual. It transforms basic pantry ingredients or forgotten fridge veggies into something heartening. And whether you have 15 minutes or an entire evening, there’s a soup for that. We gathered seven creative and reliable recipes that prove soup season isn’t just about staying warm—it’s about cooking smarter, stretching leftovers, and keeping things easy in the middle of the week.

A Quick Fix with a Fiery Kick

Lara Lee’s 15-Minute Tom Yum Soup
Sometimes dinner needs to be more rescue mission than recipe, and Lara Lee gets that. Her go-to solution is a vibrant, spicy tom yum—sour, sweet, and packed with flavor thanks to store-bought tom yum paste. If you don’t have prawns, toss in whatever protein or veggie is handy. It’s a quick turnaround from kitchen to table and proof that convenience and complexity of flavor can coexist in one bowl.

A Fall Favorite Done Right

Felicity Cloake’s Pumpkin Soup
It may be predictable, but pumpkin soup earns its regular spot on winter menus. Felicity Cloake offers a version that’s clean and comforting. Her advice: skip the water and use stock—preferably chicken—to mellow and round out the pumpkin’s flavor. With just sautéed carrots and red onions, the soup retains its simplicity while delivering on warmth and balance.

A Bowl of Home and Memory

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Beetroot and Orange Soup with Saffron Yoghurt
This one takes time—but it gives back in depth and color. Ottolenghi’s beetroot soup involves roasting beets and garlic for over an hour, building sweetness and richness. It’s finished with a tart saffron yogurt swirl and a scattering of almonds. This soup leans more into the elegant and reflective side of comfort food—something that stays in the mind long after the last spoonful.

A Cure for the Seasonal Slump

Hetty Lui McKinnon’s Noodles in Ginger Turmeric Broth
There are those days in winter when everything feels heavier, slower. Hetty Lui McKinnon understands that mood and responds with a bright, spicy broth infused with ginger, turmeric, and garlic. Add noodles and bok choy, and it becomes the ultimate antidote for low energy. More than a recipe, it’s a wellness tool—designed to revive, restore, and reinvigorate.

Humble Ingredients, Big Flavor

Jack Monroe’s Red Bean Soup with Dumplings
Sometimes it’s the most modest ingredients that deliver the strongest impression. Jack Monroe’s soup starts with red kidney beans and ends with fluffy thyme-scented dumplings. Thick, rich, and satisfying, it’s topped with crispy bacon for a salty counterpoint. And despite its bold finish, it comes together with a calm, no-fuss simplicity.

From Forgotten to Fantastic

Alice Zaslavsky’s Shchi (Cabbage Soup)
What do you do with the fading vegetables at the bottom of the fridge? If you’re Alice Zaslavsky, you turn them into a Slavic-style cabbage soup. This traditional dish—called shchi—gathers fennel, potato, carrot, turnip, and cabbage in one pot. It’s budget-friendly, keeps for days, and makes you feel like you’ve done something good with very little. Perfect for end-of-week fridge cleanouts.

An Elegant Classic Made Simple

Marc Kuzma’s 15-Minute French Onion Soup
Don’t be fooled by its bistro reputation—French onion soup doesn’t need to be complicated. Restaurateur Marc Kuzma insists his version is as easy as it is elegant. With eight ingredients and just 15 minutes, it includes white wine and cognac for that rich, caramelized edge. The result is a deeply satisfying soup that tastes far more luxurious than the effort required.

Soup Is More Than a Meal
In winter kitchens, soup carries more weight than any other dish. It’s a balm against the cold, a clever way to stretch ingredients, and a reminder that even when energy is low, flavor and comfort don’t have to be sacrificed. These seven recipes offer a range of inspiration—quick fixes, long simmers, and everything in between. All you need is a spoon and a little steam rising from your bowl.