Winter is here. It is Time to wear your coziest sweaters and indulge in delicious warm soups. Soups, especially in the winter, feel like a warm hug in chilly weather. Apart from their mouthwatering taste and warm comfort, homemade soups also have healing properties.
In Ayurveda, spices and herbs such as black pepper, cloves, coriander, and ginger are believed to have healing properties and keep the body warm and free from diseases.
This is why we have brought our readers four incredible and easy-to-cook soup recipes. They are so simple and delicious that you will be left spellbound.
Why do we advocate homemade soup?
Soups are one of the most hassle-free dishes out there. There are canned versions available in the markets. They might deliver the same taste but lack the essence and goodness of a homemade soup. Additionally, they come with added preservatives and artificial flavours. It is healthier to cook soups at home. If you are in a fix and need to learn how to cook soups with minimum ingredients, do not panic, we are to help. Just look at the recipes in this post, and you will be able to prepare a delicious dinner for your family in no time.
This chilly season, show love to yourself and your loved ones by preparing these mouthwatering soups. Let’s get started.
Soup recipes to keep you warm and healthy this winter:
1. Lemon and Cilantro Soup
- Prep time- 10 minutes
- Cooking Time-25-30 minutes
- Serves- 3-4 people
You will need
- 1 Tbsp of lemon zest (outer skin of lemon)
- 1 whole bunch of coriander
- 4-5 cups of water
- 1 ½ cups of mixed vegetables
- 2 tbsp of lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper (powdered form)
- 1-2 green chilies (optional)
Cooking instructions
Use fresh coriander from the market and wash it properly for this recipe. Chop the leaves roughly since you will be boiling them. After that, combine the green chili and lemon zest (lemon skin) in a skillet, then pour in 4 cups of water. Make sure your cook all of this on a low flame. On a low flame, allow this to boil for 15 minutes. After straining the water, turn the stove off. You can now discard the cooked coriander leaves. Your coriander lemon stock is ready.
Next, chop the vegetables. You can use any vegetable that you have in the refrigerator. There is no need to chop them neatly. Add 1 cup of water to a skillet before the veggies are added. Boil this for two minutes. Then add the just prepared stock with the coriander and lemon. On a low burner, let this boil for 5 minutes. At this stage, you can now add salt and pepper. Turn off the flame.
Add the lemon juice right before serving, and top with coriander leaves as a garnish. Serve it while hot. Your little ones will finish the bowl in no time.
2. Vegetable and Basil Soup
- Prep time- 20-25 minutes
- Cooking Time-25-30 minutes
- Serves- 3-4 people
You will need
- ½ cup freshly washed basil leaves
- 2 tsp of oil (any vegetable oil), but avoid mustard oil as it has a strong smell
- ½ cup onions (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup french beans (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup carrots (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup spaghetti (1-inch pieces)
- ¼ cup potatoes (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup cabbage (finely chopped)
- 4 cups of vegetable stock
- 4 tsp grated cheese (for garnishing purpose)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper or kali mirch (freshly grounded)
Cooking instructions
The first thing you need to do is to blend the basil leaves with 1/4 cup of water. Put the paste aside, as it will be added to the mix later. Take a deep nonstick skillet or pan to cook the rest of the vegetables. Onions, french beans, carrots, and celery are added to a deep nonstick skillet that has been heated with oil, and they are sautéed for three to four minutes over medium heat while continuously stirred.
Stir thoroughly; then it’s Time to mix the spaghetti that we cut into 1-inch pieces and vegetable stock. Simmer the concoction for about 5 minutes. After thoroughly mixing, add the finely chopped potatoes and cabbage. You need to simmer over 10 to 15 minutes while stirring occasionally. Simmer for two to three minutes after adding the basil paste, salt, and pepper.
Before serving, add the grated cheese on top. Your vegetable basil soup is ready to serve.
3. Green Pea and Corn Soup
- Prep time- 5-10 minutes
- Cooking Time- 15-20 minutes
- Serves- 3-4 people
You will need
- 2 cups of fresh green pea (you can also use frozen peas as well)
- ¼ cups of onions (finely chopped)
- 1 clove of garlic or lehsun (finely crushed)
- 1 tbsp of all-purpose flour or maida
- ¼ tsp chili powder or degi mirch
- 1 cup sweet corn kernel (boiled and coarsely crushed)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper (freshly grounded)
Cooking Instructions
This is one of the easiest soup recipes on the internet. It takes no time and makes for a delicious dinner. The recipe is perfect for cooking beginners.
The first step is to take a pressure cooker, put it on the stove, and add 1 cup of water. Now combine all the vegetables (onions, garlic, and peas), maida (all-purpose flour), and salt. Cook the mixture until you hear two whistles. Take your time opening the lid. Let the steam escape completely. This will ensure all the ingredients are cooked properly.
Take out the mixture and blend everything in a blender till you get a paste-like consistency.
Take a nonstick pan and add ½ cup of water with salt, coarsely chopped, and boil corn, chili powder, and kali mirch. Bring all the ingredients to a boil. Add the paste to the mixture, and your delicious pea and corn soup are ready.
You can add cream as a garnish. The milky texture of the cream will elevate the taste even more. Enjoy on a chilly winter day.
Tip: If you are using frozen corn kernels, blanch the kernels first.
4. Lentil Soup
- Prep time- 10 minutes
- Cooking Time-25-30 minutes
- Serves- 5-6 people
You will need
- ½ cup washed split red lentil or masoor dal
- 3 onions( finely sliced)
- 4 cloves of garlic of lehsun (crushed)
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- 3 tomatoes (chopped)
- 6 teacups of water
- 2 tsp vegetable oil( mustard oil is preferred)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For garnishing
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Some fresh coriander leaves
Cooking Instructions
Take a pan and add mustard oil. When the oil is hot enough, add the onions and cook them for a while. When the onions are golden brown, add garlic and chili powder. Cook the mixture for 30 seconds before turning off the flame. Take a pressure cooker and 6 teacups of water, tomatoes, masoor dal, and salt. Wait till the pressure cooker whistles once.
Combine both mixtures in a skillet and bring it to a boil.
Add lemon juice and coriander leaves for garnishing.
For an Indian experience, you can serve the soup with 1 tbsp of steamed white rice.
Final Thoughts
Winter is a time for snuggling up next to your loved ones and sharing laughter and warm soups. This season bring your loved ones closer with warm conversations and hearty meals. Bon Appetit.
