20 Simple Vegetable Soups

January 3, 2015

These vegetable soups highlight everything from squash to scallions; pair them with a simple green salad and a hunk of good bread for the ideal winter supper.

Classic Tomato Soup

Classic Tomato Soup

Inspired by the sweet-salty pleasures of a BLT sandwich, this version of tomato soup starts with smoky bacon and gets better from there. It's comforting, savory, and goes brilliantly with grilled cheese.Anna Stockwell
Cream of Fennel Soup

Cream of Fennel Soup

This rich, smooth soup balances the gentle flavor of fennel with spices and a bracing addition of Pernod. Get the recipe for Cream of Fennel Soup »Vanessa Rees
Caribbean Pumpkin Soup

Caribbean Pumpkin 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.Penny De Los Santos
Creamy Garlic Soup

Creamy Garlic Soup

A rich soup heavy with garlic and shallots makes a hearty first course or light main dish. Serve it with plenty of crusty bread. Get the recipe for Creamy Garlic Soup »Vanessa Rees
Scallion Soup

Scallion Soup

This tangy, onion-laden soup is a variation on vichyssoise.James Baigrie
Trieste-Style Sauerkraut and Bean Soup

Trieste-Style Sauerkraut and Bean Soup

Sauerkraut and bean soup is a hearty classic that is enormously popular in and around Trieste. At restaurants, the meat that has been simmered in the soup is usually lifted out before the soup is served and offered later as a separate course. At home, it's more typically removed from the bone and mixed into the soup. See the recipe for Trieste-Style Sauerkraut and Bean Soup »Sandro Michahelles
Ukraine-Style Beet Soup

Ukraine-Style Beet Soup

We adapted the recipe for a traditional Ukraine-style soup from Please to the Table: The Russian Cookbook by Anya von Bremzen and John Welchman. See the recipe for Ukraine-Style Beet Soup »Ben Fink
Yellow Pea Soup

Yellow Pea Soup

Maple syrup is big business in La Beauce, France; it flavors many dishes, including bright pea soup. See the recipe for Yellow Pea Soup »André Baranowski
Duarte's Cream of Artichoke Soup

Duarte's Cream of Artichoke Soup

Blending artichoke with heavy cream makes for a velvety and satisfying bowl of soup. Get the recipe for Duarte's Cream of Artichoke Soup »Todd Coleman
Umbrian Vegetable Soup

Zuppa di Verdure all'Agliata (Umbrian Vegetable Soup)

Unlike a classic slow-cooked minestrone, the vegetables are cooked quickly to preserve their bright flavor. See the recipe for Zuppa di Verdure all'Agliata (Umbrian Vegetable Soup) »Penny De Los Santos
Pear, Shallot, and Delicata Squash Soup

Pear, Shallot, and Delicata Squash Soup

Pear and autumn squash take on savory depth in this elegant soup, brightened by a splash of vinegar and a drizzle of maple syrup.Helen Rosner
Vegetarian Jamaican Pepper Pot Soup

Pepper Pot Soup

This vegetarian soup, a Jamaican classic, is made with callaloo, a spinach-like green that can be found canned or fresh in Caribbean groceries. Serve with minced fresh Scotch bonnet chiles sprinkled on top for extra heat.Matt Taylor-Gross
Cold Yogurt and Herb Soup with Chickpeas

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 »Justin Walker
Pureed Sweet Potato Soup

Pureed Sweet Potato Soup

The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite estimates that it serves about 45 gallons of this rich, vegetable-laden soup at every seating of their annual Bracebridge Dinner. See the recipe for Pureed Sweet Potato Soup »Arthur Meehan
Winter Squash and Apple Soup

Winter Squash and Apple Soup

Winter squash and apples are stewed together and then garnished with fried mushrooms and drizzled with spiced mint butter for a fragrant, seasonal soup, which makes the most of autumn's best produce. See the recipe for Winter Squash and Apple Soup »Todd Coleman
Vegetable Run-Up

Vegetable Run-Up

This version of rundown, typically made with mackerel, was renamed by chef Yvonne Peters-Hope of Ashanti Oasis Vegetarian Restaurant, who gave us the recipe for this meat-free take on the savory breakfast stew.Landon Nordeman
Greengrocers Soup with Onion, Peppers, Rapini, and Potatoes

Greengrocer's Soup with Onion, Peppers, Rapini, and Potatoes

A classic soup recipe that hails from Marcella Hazan showcases the unique flavor of each of the vegetables used. See the recipe for Greengrocer's Soup with Onion, Peppers, Rapini, and Potatoes »Christopher Hirsheimer
Fennel and Potato Soup

Fennel and Potato Soup

As the fennel cooks in the simmering liquid, it breaks down, thickening the broth. You can prepare this dish as a hot soup, but it is just as delicious served cold. See the recipe for Fennel and Potato Soup »M. Ferruccio Carassale
French Onion Soup

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.Helen Rosner
Miso Soup

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.Elizabeth Cecil

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