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Warm up this winter: 11 Soul-soothing soup recipes to try at home
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newsletter, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
The first full week of 2025 was a cold one here in Boston, complete with heavy winds, freezing temperatures and even snow flurries.
I wish I could say I’m the type of New Englander that’s resilient enough to slurp down an iced coffee in this kind of weather. The truth is, you’re more likely to find me huddling over a warm bowl of soup at mealtimes for relief from the surrounding cold.
Soup is more than just a vessel for heat, though. Preparing a pot of savory soup is also a great way to experiment with new vegetables or ease into cooking more at home. If you’re looking for a new soup recipe to add to your repertoire this winter, Here & Now resident chef Kathy Gunst has your back. We’ve sorted some of our favorite soup recipes she’s released over the years into a handy list you can revisit the next time you’re craving a warm, cozy bowl of soup. Enjoy!
International flavors
- Sopa di lima: Gunst’s take on Mexican sopa di lima has lime juice, tomatoes, chicken and tortilla strips. Want to make it quicker? She suggests using a rotisserie chicken if you’re strapped for time.
- Mulligatawny: An angry purveyor of soups on a hit ’90s sitcom kept his recipe for this Indian red lentil soup a secret. We won’t. Click here for Gunst’s recipe for this sweet, spicy soup.
- Avgolemono: Chicken, Meyer lemons, orzo and dill meld together in this Greek soup recipe that Gunst describes as “pure comfort food.”
- Tortellini in brodo: This Italian soup includes chicken, spinach, parmesan cheese and tortellini. And the best part? It only takes 15 minutes to put together.
- Red curry chicken noodle soup: Red curry paste, coconut milk, ginger and cilantro are at the forefront of this Thai-inspired chicken noodle soup recipe by Gunst. Add chewy udon noodles for an extra filling meal.
Protein-packed soups
- Chicken noodle soup: Gunst’s classic chicken noodle is based on the sickness-soothing recipe she ate growing up in New York. It uses egg noodles, veggies and chicken to warm you up from within.
- Miso ramen with chicken: If you’re bored of instant ramen, give this fresh alternative a try. This soup comes together quickly and includes chicken, bok choy, miso paste and a soft-boiled egg.
- New England clam chowder: Creamy clam chowder is delicious year-round. Gunst’s recipe uses potato, bacon, fresh clams and whitefish to make a hearty, nutritious soup.
Vegetarian soups
- Potato and leek soup: This cream-based soup is packed with root veggies. And when served hot, it’s “one of the best comfort foods around,” according to Gunst. Get the recipe here.
- Miso ramen with butternut squash: Gunst’s second recipe for ramen uses in-season butternut squash, vegetable stock, ginger and scallions for an aromatic winter soup, minus the meat.
- Winter squash and carrot soup: Speaking of in-season gourds, this vegan soup recipe also uses butternut squash — plus carrots and lots of spices — to create a velvety soup that’s sure to satisfy.
P.S. — Not in the mood to cook? We previously asked local chefs to share their go-to soup spots. Click here to find out where you can grab tasty lobster bisque, tangy Vietnamese chicken phô or cheesy french onion soup in the Greater Boston area.
