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Cold weather isn’t all bad: That (seemingly relentless) chill in the air does also mean that soup season is upon us. Whether your family is a lover of chunky or smooth styles, or prefers colorful or rustic, soup is always a crowd-pleasing meal that comforts everyone as much as it fortifies us.

For all it’s one-pot simplicity, a properly made soup can be a well-rounded meal in a bowl—especially when it’s vegetable-based. (This is true whether you’re cooking with an Instant Pot, a slow-cooker, or just your favorite Dutch oven A fortified vegetable broth or homemade stock, loads of veggies and beans, and satisfying grains take the center stage in these vegetable-forward winter soups, and meat just plays the occasional supporting player.

And we’re not just talking about minestrone recipes. When it comes to inspiration, we’ve looked everywhere from Mexico to Japan to Provence. Filled with everything from mushrooms to kale to carrots and chickpeas, these beloved bowls have everything we’re craving.

Cream of Tomato Soup

Classic tomato soup gets brightness and body from crushed tomatoes; smoky depth from bacon; and a luxurious finish from a little crème fraîche. **See the recipe for Cream of Tomato Soup »**
"zuppa

Italian Bean and Vegetable Soup

In this traditional Lucchese soup, vegetables and beans are slow-cooked until little to no bite remains, making it a rustic, comforting dish. Be sure to give any tougher vegetables all the time they need to scompare, or disappear. The quantities are flexible, so use whatever you have on hand. Get the recipe for Italian Bean and Vegetable Soup »
"Chickpea

Chickpea and Pasta Soup

Chickpea and Pasta Soup
"White

White Bean Soup with Fennel Seeds and Broccoli Rabe

White Bean Soup with Fennel Seeds and Broccoli Rabe

Carrot Soup with Leeks and Ginger

This spicy carrot ginger soup is an easy winter weeknight meal. See the recipe for Carrot Soup with Leeks and Ginger
"Ancho

Ancho Chile Soup with Avocado, Crema, and Chile Pasilla (Sopa de Chile Ancho)

"Umbrian

Umbrian Vegetable Soup (Zuppa di Verdure all’Agliata)

Unlike a classic slow-cooked minestrone, the vegetables are cooked quickly to preserve their bright flavor. Get the recipe for Umbrian Vegetable Soup (Zuppa di Verdure all’Agliata) »
"French

French Onion Soup

Braised onions, bread, and melted cheese are the main components of this timeless dish, which epitomizes the robust cuisine of Parisian brasseries. Get the recipe for French Onion Soup »
"Chilled

Chilled Mexican Potato and Leek Soup (Sopa de Poro y Papa)

"Bread

Bread and Garlic Soup with Cilantro

"Onion

Onion Fennel and Mushroom Soup

Onion Fennel and Mushroom Soup
"Kale

White Bean and Lacinato Kale Soup with Smoked Ham Hock

"Green

Green Minestrone with Kohlrabi, Olives, and Spinach Pesto

"Fermented

Fermented Carrot Borscht with Ginger and Turmeric

“Borscht was traditionally a fermented soup,” says Cortney Burns, who adapted the classic beet base to one featuring a combination of fresh and fermented carrots and beets instead. “The warming spices, fresh ginger, and alliums bring out the natural sweet flavor of the carrots,” she says. Burns tops her soup with anything from salt-brined caraway to shredded or wilted vegetables, pickled ginger, dill, or yogurt, but play around with combinations you like. For a red version, use purple or red carrots and red beets. For a yellow version, use yellow carrots and golden beets. Pass the finished soup through a fine-mesh sieve for a completely silky texture. Get the recipe for Fermented Carrot Borscht with Ginger and Turmeric »
"Mexican

Mexican Fava Bean Soup (Sopa de Habas)

The secret to this soup is a flavorful aromatic base of tomatoes, garlic, and onions—called a recado—that is pureed and fried before the beans go into the pot. Get the recipe for Mexican Fava Bean Soup (Sopa de Habas) »
"Cream

Cream of Parsley Soup with Fresh Horseradish

Brilliantly green and vibrantly flavored, this simple parsley soup–garnished with fiery fresh-grated horseradish–is the perfect first course for a Passover seder feast. Get the recipe for Cream of Parsley Soup with Fresh Horseradish »
"Mushroom-Barley

Mushroom-Barley Soup

Mushroom-Barley Soup
"Pumpkin

Pumpkin Soup with Orange and Parmigiano-Reggiano

Pumpkin Soup with Orange and Parmigiano-Reggiano
"Soupe

Soupe au Pistou (Provençal Vegetable Soup with Pistou)

Pistou, the Provençal cousin of pesto, is stirred into this summer vegetable soup just before serving. Get the recipe for Soupe au Pistou »
"Pear,

Pear, Shallot, and Delicata Squash Soup (September 2011)

Pear and autumn squash have sweet and savory depth in this elegant soup, brightened by a splash of vinegar and a drizzle of maple syrup or olive oil
"Caribbean

Caribbean Winter Squash Soup

Roast or sauté extra squash over the weekend (butternut or calabaza are perfect) to make quick weeknight work of this garlicky, spicy pumpkin soup. Get the recipe for Caribbean Winter Squash Soup »
"Paprika-Spiced

Paprika-Spiced Cauliflower Soup (Karfiolleves)

This recipe for paprika-spiced cauliflower soup comes from chef Andrea Németh at the restaurant Bagolyvár in Budapest. To form the tiny dumplings, called galuska, she simply drops bits of dough into the simmering broth. Get the recipe for Paprika-Spiced Cauliflower Soup (Karfiolleves) »
"Cold

Cold Yogurt and Herb Soup with Chickpeas

Rice and garbanzos add body to this vegetarian soup laced with fresh greens and herbs. Serve it chilled—as we have done—or, if you prefer, just slightly warmed. Get the recipe for Cold Yogurt and Herb Soup with Chickpeas »
"avocado

Avocado Soup

As ethereal as its origins, this unusual, chilled summer soup is a specialty at the Singular Patagonia, an otherworldly hotel that borders Sena Última Esperanza (or Last Hope Sound). It’s made velvety and rich by the local avocados, which are called paltas. Get the recipe for Avocado Soup »
"Winter

Winter Squash and Apple Soup

A garnish of fried mushrooms and a drizzle of spiced mint butter adds elegance to a simple pureed vegetable soup.
"Hot

Hot and Sour Soup (Suan La Tang)

Mild ingredients—mushrooms, tofu—are nestled in a fiery, vinegar-laced broth.
"Tuscan

Tuscan Bean Soup

Author Nancy Harmon Jenkins uses olive oil three ways in this version of the venerable Italian soup: for sautéing garlic, rubbing on the toasts that accompany the dish, and finishing the soup. Get the recipe for Tuscan Bean Soup »
"Spinach

Spinach and Edamame Egg Drop Soup

A handful of soybeans and fresh spinach lightens up this Chinese restaurant favorite. Get the recipe for Spinach and Edamame Egg Drop Soup »
"Miso

Miso Soup with Scallions and Shiso

This clean-tasting, simple miso soup from chef Chris Fischer is made with dashi, a fish broth reinforced here with kombu and bonito flakes. Get the recipe for Miso Soup with Scallions and Shiso »
"Heart

Hearty Vegetable Stew with Duck Confit and Cabbage (Garbure Gasconne)

"Lentil

Lentil Soup with Caraway and Minted Yogurt

In this Indian-inspired dish lentils are flavored with caraway and coriander to make a quick, fragrant soup. Get the recipe for Lentil Soup with Caraway and Minted Yogurt »
"Crisp-Tender

Crisp-Tender Brussels Sprouts in 7-Spice Broth

This is not a soup but a simply prepared vegetable side flavored by a light, flavorful broth. The sprouts’ mellow creaminess is tempered by the spicy warmth of the liquid. Get the recipe for Crisp-Tender Brussels Sprouts in 7-Spice Broth »

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