22 delicious soup recipes to sip and slurp all year round

How to make soup from scratch in six simple steps

Making a steamy, delicious batch of soup isn’t rocket science. On the contrary. For most soup recipes, it all comes down to the same basic steps.

1. Start off by sautéing your aromatics. Cook down your onions, garlic, shallots or celery in a small amount of oil or butter until they’re soft and fragrant. Giving your soup a base flavour? Check.

2. After that, chop your vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking. Plug in your Food Processor or Food Chopper if you want to speed things along or escape this rather tedious chore. Done chopping? Throw them into the pan with the aromatics.

3. Further build up a flavourful foundation. Pour in your broth or stock. Chicken or beef, vegetable or fish stock, anything goes.

4. Boost it even more with some fresh or dried herbs, spices and seasoning.

5. Sit back, relax and let it simmer until the vegetables are tender.

6. Finally, blend your soup if the recipe says so. Most of them do. And that’s where your KitchendAid blender comes in handy.

What is the best appliance for making soup?

Not sure which blender or mixer works best for the soup you’re making? It depends on three things. The texture you’re aiming for, the ingredients you’re working with, and the amount of soup you want to make. Let’s see what these handy kitchen tools can do for you.

Blender – your go-to for creamy soups and bisques

Many soups require puréeing. And that happens to be one of your blender’s many talents. So if you want an ultra-smooth, highly slurpable soup, reach for your blender. Just be sure to let your soup cool down a bit before pouring it into the blender jug. This way, you’ll prevent steam from building up too much pressure while you’re blending.

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Hand blender – great for small and big batches

A hand blender, also known as an immersion blender, is compact, easy to store and even easier to use. You can simply puree your soup directly in the cooking pot. This is particularly handy if you’re cooking up a small or big batch of soup. Going for a chowder with bite-sized pieces, or a slurpable silky-smooth soup? Either way, you’re in full control of the texture with a hand blender. Just make sure the blades are fully submerged. That way, it won’t splatter.

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Food Processor and Food chopper – ideal for soups with a bit more texture

Plug in your Food Processor and Food chopper to speed up your soup prep and use them to slice, chop or dice your veggies. Team up with them again if you’re aiming for a chunkier soup with a bit more texture.

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22 homemade soup recipes with vegetables

1. Leek and potato soup

Short ingredients list. Quick prep time. Simple cutting and cooking manoeuvres. Making soup doesn’t get any easier than this. Dress this straightforward, yet comforting bowl of goodness with crunchy croutons, throw on some fresh parsley, and dig in.

2. Butternut squash soup

This boldly coloured soup is so luxuriously thick and velvety-smooth that eating it feels like one big bear hug. If you whip it up during butternut season – they’re at their best in autumn and winter – you’re in for an even bigger portion of TLC. Just be sure to roast the butternut squash first – it brings out its sweetness and nuttiness even more.

3. Tomato soup

Weeknight dinner or lunch, this all-star recipe always hits the spot. It’s naturally sweet and richly flavoured. All thanks to one key step in this recipe: roasting the tomatoes, onions and garlic in the oven beforehand. Texture tip: look out for Roma tomatoes the next time you go to the supermarket. They make for a thicker, more robust soup.

4. Tomato and roasted red pepper soup

Sweet ripe tomatoes, smoky roasted red peppers, tart balsamic vinegar, and flaming hot pepper sauce… Sweet, salty, sour and spicy, all in one bowl? Yes, this vibrant soup covers all of your flavour cravings. Serve it hot as a promising first course, or cold as a refreshing gazpacho. In that case, make sure to chill it for at least an hour in an airtight bottle or container beforehand.

5. Vegetable soup: broccoli and spinach

If the electrifying green colour of this nutritious spinach and broccoli soup doesn’t grab your attention, its gorgeously creamy, yet earthy taste will. No fresh spinach at hand? Use frozen spinach instead. You can even swap it for some courgette or leeks. Any type of greens will do.

6. Chicken soup with tortilla & lime

Is it a starter or a main course? A slurpable chicken chilli or a drinkable burrito? This bright and zingy soup is a little bit of everything. And it comes with all of Mexico’s sweethearts: juicy chicken, crispy tortilla chips, spicy green chilli, and citrusy lime. Top it with some creamy cheddar cheese and buttery avocado and there you have it: a soup for the soul.

7. Pumpkin soup

Pumpkin soup recipes come in all shapes and sizes. This one falls under the ridiculously-quick-and-easy category, but still does everything a steamy bowl of soup is supposed to do. It’s heart-warmingly smooth and soul-nourishingly yummy. Craving some extra crunch? Sprinkle it with a handful of nuts and seeds and gobble it up with some toast on the side.

8. Pumpkin apple soup

This entrée instantly ups the cosiness level at home. The rich earthy pumpkin flavours mingle with the lively sweetness of apples, while a generous sprinkle of ground coriander, ground cumin and crushed chilli flakes give the soup more depth and complexity. A sweet and savoury combo like that is perfect for a cold, winter evening.

9. Pumpkin ginger soup

Want to serve this ginger-forward pumpkin soup in small, lightly roasted and hollowed out pumpkins? Try this gently spiced, yet vibrant and sweet taste of pumpkin soup. The flavour from ginger and orange juice will kick you up as well.

10. Cucumber and yoghurt gazpacho

When the temperatures are soaring and you can’t be bothered to eat a full meal (let alone cook one), reach for this easy gazpacho recipe. Cool, herby and yoghurt-based, it’s filling enough to nip your summer appetite in the bud.

11. Tomato gazpacho

This ice-cold Spanish staple is your go-to for a hot summer’s day. The recipe starts with a pile of juicy tomatoes and a blender. And it ends 10 minutes later with you sipping a glass of this refreshing, bright red tomato soup. Prep tip: let the tomatoes sunbathe for a bit. When you toss them in your blender all hot and sunkissed, they’ll release their oils and flavours better.

12. Red beetroot gazpacho

Invited your friends over for dinner and looking for a stunning starter? This bright pink spin on classic gazpacho will set the right tone. Show off that gorgeous rose blush by serving it in fancy glasses – not bowls – and top it with some subtly salted goat’s cheese mousse.

13. Green gazpacho

You can’t judge a soup by its colour. But in this case, you can. It tastes just as cheerful and herby as it looks. Courtesy of the crisp cucumber, leafy greens and fresh herbs. A splash of tangy lime and two tablespoons of olive oil will turn this cold soup into the of the kitchen.

14. Lentil soup

All of summer’s yummiest produce team up with red lentils, a pile of aromatic spices, and a preserved lemon to turn this patchwork of veggies into one deeply satisfying Middle Eastern-inspired soup. Work your way to the bottom of this deliciously comforting bowl with a spoon and a flatbread or naan.

15. French onion soup

The secret to nailing this genius French classic? Patience. Don’t rush the caramelisation of the onions. Slow and low cooking, that’s what’s needed here. But stick to it, and you’ll be rewarded in full. This deliciously rich onion soup topped with cheesy toast is about as comforting as it gets.

16. Broccoli stem soup

Do you always feel a bit sorry for your broccoli stems when you throw them away, but don't know what else to do with them either? Then this no-waste recipe is the way to go. It turns those branchy green leftovers into a deliciously silky soup made even creamier with half an avocado. Want a bit more bite? Top it with chilli flakes and crunchy chopped hazelnuts.

17. Spicy sweetcorn soup

Soup season doesn’t end when winter does. And this sun-in-a-bowl recipe proves it. It makes the most out of sweetcorn season – a.k.a. summer – by perfectly balancing out the sweetness of the corn with a little heat from some sliced jalapeños, a pinch of chilli flakes, a tangy splash of lime, and a hint of garlic.

18. Cream of mushroom soup

Button, chestnut, shiitake, portobello, wild mushrooms … This silky mushroom soup recipe is anything but picky, so grab any type of mushroom you can get your hands on. But if you’re spoilt for choice, then by all means mix it up. It will only add more layers of flavour to this umami-packed bowl of goodness.

19. Chestnut soup

This luscious chestnut soup is both the antidote to your winter blues, and the star of your end-of-year festivities. Its taste? Sweet and slightly nutty, with a hint of earthiness. Use a freshly made bouquet garni for a subtle herby aroma.

20. Pea and Mint soup

Light, surprisingly bright, and ready in a mere 15 minutes. This elegant pea and mint soup is the cookbook definition of a summer dish. Feel like turning it up a notch? Top it with a splash of cream, a drizzle of olive oil and some crunchy, crushed pistachios.

21. Curried carrot and coconut soup

Carrots are getting a head-to-toe make-over in this Asian-inspired silky soup. A dash of exotic coconut oil, a tablespoon of aromatic but mild yellow curry paste, and a slice of ginger set the stage, while a dash of creamy coconut milk adds that final velvety touch.

22. Chickpea soup

It’s called ‘Zuppa di Ceci’ in Italian, but you can call it “that Italian soup you discovered on a KitchenAid blog one day and just can’t get enough of”. Rightfully so, by the way. The aromatic and herby flavours of this robust chickpea soup are so buono you’ll be back for seconds in no time.