Welcome To Soup Month! (GIVEAWAY)

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

To start off the new year, we have compiled together 15 new soup recipes (plus some extra bonus recipes) to make the month just a little more exciting!

As an added bonus, we will be giving away a $50 Amazon gift card every week to one lucky reader.

To enter:

• simply try any soup recipe on our website (even older ones)
• and then leave a comment on the post saying that you made the recipe (yes, it’s that easy!)

We will contact each winner every week and also announce their first name on this post.

Winners:

1. Congrats to Cali who tried the Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup!
2. Congrats to Michael who tried the Vegetable Beef Soup!
3. Congrats to Susan who tried the Chicken Pozole!
4. Congrats to Carol who tried the Broccoli Soup!  

Now a few more details about the recipes:

How We Developed The Recipes

Each recipe was developed with the following intentions:

• First and foremost: loads of flavor. When developing these recipes, our primary goal was to create soups with maximum flavor.
• Options: In addition, we included options for shortcuts that we have tried and verified for convenience.
• Kid-friendly: We also made an effort to make these recipes kid friendly. We know how challenging meal times can be with picky eaters. We’ve been very careful to create and share recipes our own kids enjoy. This is always a tricky thing because some kids are pickier than others. Hopefully, you’ll find the recipes are easy to adapt to your kid’s preferences or give them an opportunity to be more adventurous and avoid those dreaded mealtime battles!
• Minimal ingredients: To keep things simple, we aimed for each recipe to have around 10 main ingredients, not including pantry staples like olive oil, salt, pepper, and seasonings that most households already have on hand.
• Variety: We have included a diverse range of recipes to cater to everyone’s preferences, including options for meat lovers, vegetarians, and a blend of healthy as well as comforting/hearty soups. Additionally, we have included a variety of different flavor profiles in these recipes to ensure there is something for everyone.

What You Can Expect

We’ve worked hard to create, develop, test, and share 15 new recipes over this next month. Each post will include:

• Step-by-step photo directions
• A simple printable recipe
• A video tutorial on how to make the recipe

Follow The Series

Every day we’re going to be sharing a step-by-step tutorial on how to make each recipe in “reel form” (you’ll see just how easy they are!) over on Instagram and TikTok. Be sure to follow the Instagram stories or catch up in the saved “highlights” section of Instagram. 

And now that you know what to expect, here are some ideas for creating better soups.

Here are some tips for making soup taste better:

1. Use quality ingredients: Choose fresh vegetables and meats, and use good quality chicken or vegetable stock for a more flavorful base. The better the ingredients, the better the soup!
2. Sauté the aromatic vegetables thoroughly: Aromatic vegetables like onions, garlic, celery, and carrots add depth and flavor to soups. Sauté these vegetables thoroughly before adding other ingredients–this develops a flavor base for the soup.
3. Experiment with herbs and spices: Fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, rosemary, thyme, and parsley can add a bright, fresh flavor to soups. Dried herbs and spices like cumin, chili powder, and paprika can also add depth and warmth. Fresh herbs generally go in at the very end since they’re more delicate, and dried herbs often go in earlier in the recipe so they can reconstitute.
4. Add a touch of acidity: A splash of lemon juice or vinegar can help brighten the flavors of a soup.
5. Don’t be afraid to try new things: Experiment with adding a pinch of sugar, a spoonful of tomato paste, or a sprinkle of cheese to add depth and complexity to the flavor of your soup.
6. Allow the soup to simmer: Letting the soup simmer for an extended period of time can help the flavors meld and intensify.
7. Adjust the seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning as needed. Build the seasonings by adding them as you cook for more flavor. Add salt and pepper to taste, and feel free to add more herbs or spices if needed.
8. Garnish the soup: A sprinkle of fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, or a sprinkle of cheese can add flavor and visual appeal to the finished soup.

Soup and crusty bread: a match made in heaven!

Don’t forget to serve your soup with some delicious bread for the ultimate flavor experience. Warm, freshly toasted, or hot-out-of-the-oven bread makes a great accompaniment to soup. We love slathering softened butter on warmed bread and dipping it into the soup. Skip the spoon and just use the bread to soak up all the flavors! Here are some of our favorite homemade bread recipes to try with your soup: 

• No-Knead Bread
• Life-Changing No-Knead Dinner Rolls
• French Bread
• Focaccia
• Honey Whole Wheat Bread
• White Bread
• No Yeast Bread
• Fry Bread
• Cornbread Recipe or make Cornbread Muffins

Storing Soup 

Different soups have different storage requirements, so be sure to refer to the specific instructions for each recipe. However, here are some general guidelines for storing soup:

• Soup can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
• To store soup in the refrigerator, let it cool to room temperature and then transfer it to an airtight container.
• To store soup in the freezer, let it cool to room temperature and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the container or bag to prevent freezer burn. When you’re ready to eat the soup, thaw it in the refrigerator or in the microwave and then reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.
• It’s also a good idea to portion the soup into smaller containers or bags before freezing, so you can thaw and reheat smaller amounts as needed.

Making Substitutions

Substituting ingredients is a great way to adapt a recipe to your personal tastes or to work with ingredients that you have on hand. Here are a few tips for making substitutions in soup recipes:

1. Substitute similar ingredients. If the recipe calls for a certain type of vegetable that you don’t have, try using a similar vegetable instead. For example, you can substitute kale for spinach or butternut squash for pumpkin.
2. Use canned or frozen vegetables. If you don’t have fresh vegetables on hand, you can often use canned or frozen vegetables as a substitute. Just be sure to drain and rinse canned vegetables before using them and to thaw frozen vegetables (if the recipe calls for fresh) before adding them to the soup.
3. Experiment with different herbs and spices. If you don’t have a certain herb or spice that a recipe calls for, try using a different herb or spice that you do have. This can be a great way to add your own personal touch to a recipe.
4. Substitute chicken or vegetable stock for water. Chicken or vegetable stock adds a lot more flavor to your soup than plain water. You can also use broth or bouillon cubes if you don’t have stock on hand.
5. Try different types of protein. If a recipe calls for a specific type of meat, you can often substitute a different type of meat or a plant-based protein like beans or lentils. Just be aware that this may alter the flavor and texture of the soup. 
6. Add protein. If you want to add some protein to our vegetarian soup recipes, you can try tossing in some shredded chicken or turkey at the end of the cooking process to warm it through.

Remember, the key to making successful substitutions is to be flexible and open to trying new things. Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with these soup recipes!

New Soup Recipes:

1. Creamy Chicken Soup

2. Farro Soup

3. Vegetable Beef Soup

4. Chicken Curry Rice Soup

5. Couscous Soup

6. Creamy Mushroom Soup Recipe

7. Turkey Vegetable Soup

8. Chicken Pozole

9. Healthy Zuppa Toscana

10. Broccoli Soup

11. Vegetable Pasta Soup

Bonus: Herb Bread (No Knead!)

12. Barley Soup

13. Tuscan Soup

14. Beef Lentil Soup

15. Cauliflower Soup Recipe