4 Soup Recipes to Get Through Winter

What’s better on a cold, cold night than a hot bowl of hearty soup? We can’t think of anything we like better. If you’re tired of making the same old thing, then this short collection of recipes might just help you find a new favorite.

Loaded Potato Soup

For those who love warm and creamy potato soup, this recipe is a real winner. Even better, the prep and cook times are relatively short, so you don’t have to wait around with a grumbly tummy. Take note that no meat is included except for the suggested bacon. You can even leave that out if you prefer a vegetarian meal.

Visit the full recipe to get all the ingredients and instructions. This particular soup calls for 2% milk instead of cream. You can substitute other low-fat ingredients for an even lighter meal.

Bacon Corn Chowder with Shrimp

There’s something so filling about a nice, hot chowder, isn’t there? This version gives you everything you crave, with the salty bacon and sweet corn, topped with tender shrimp. If you stored your own corn during the fall, then you’ll get to use it in this glorious winter soup. If not, frozen and canned corn work just fine, too.

The whole recipe can be found here, along with the cook times and instructions. Before you get started on anything, make sure you have a blender and a Dutch oven, or your cooking experiment will be over before it begins.

Beef and Coconut Soup

Like something a little more exotic for your winter meals? Consider this beef and coconut soup with crispy shallots, courtesy of Martha Stewart. This soup provides flavor and sustenance, with tender beef and sweet coconut, along with a zesty spice that will keep you warm.

The whole recipe is on Martha Stewart’s website. Take note that you may need some ingredients that aren’t always hanging around in your kitchen, too. This meal may take a little bit of planning and shopping.

Welsh Cawl

This traditional Welsh soup is something you’ll daydream about long after the tureen is empty. Jamie Oliver, celebrity chef in England, provides a recipe that was passed to him by prize-winning cawl cooker Sue Jones. That means you’ll find no better warming soup around.

To make your own, find the recipe on Jamie Oliver’s website. Note the need for lamb instead of beef, which might call for a trip to a specialty butcher shop if it’s not readily available at your local grocery store. Also, Jamie and Sue both suggest letting the flavors develop by leaving the cawl in the fridge overnight—or even up to three days—before serving.

There’s surely a soup here that fits your tastes, from the simple to the exotic and right back to traditional. If you try any and love them, be sure to tell your friends where you found them!