Vegetable Soups That Will Keep You Warm

As winter begins, we enjoy some warmth-inducing foods. There is nothing better during chilly evenings than to curl under a blanket with an interesting book or show and scoop up some hot yummy soup.

Many vegetable soups can induce instant warmth in your body. Additionally, most of them are healthy and strengthen your immunity system. And if you feel under the weather, fighting a cold or the flu, having a wholesome steaming hot bowl of homemade soup can give some much-needed relief.

Let us look at a few delicious vegetable soups that can make your cold evenings a lot warmer and much more comfortable. Our list has a few classics as well as exotic recipes.

1) Carrot and Beetroot Shorba

If you are looking for some excellent healthy vegetable soup for this winter, nothing can beat the goodness of carrot and beetroot soup. Beetroot is loaded with potassium, folic acid, iron, fibre, calcium, and antioxidants which help strengthen the immune system. Beetroot is also great at detoxifying the body by clearing out the kidneys and gall bladder. Carrot, on the other hand, is a rich source of vitamin A which is great for vision. The deep orange colour of carrots is due to the presence of beta-carotene, which is excellent for muscle strength and general well-being.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serving: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 Carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 Beetroots, peeled and chopped
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 1-inch piece of Ginger, chopped
• 2 Green Chilies, slit
• Fresh Coriander for garnish
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 4 cups Water
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan and sauté bay leaf, cumin seeds, and chopped ginger until fragrant.
2. Add chopped carrots, green chillies, and beetroots to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Pour in the water, bring to a boil, and cook until the vegetables are tender (about 10-12 minutes).
4. Strain the mixture, then puree the cooked vegetables in a blender.
5. Strain the puree once more to ensure a smooth texture.
6. Adjust seasoning with salt and garnish with grated carrots and beetroots, if desired.
7. Serve hot and enjoy the nourishing, vibrant soup!

2) Romaine Lettuce or Lettuce and Basil Soup

An extremely healthy and tasty soup, the lettuce and basil soup is a more exotic soup to enjoy during cold winter evenings. Thick, and creamy with a distinct flavour of basil and lemon juice, this yummy soup gives all the health benefits of lettuce and basil put together. The abundance of vitamin K in lettuce is great for bones and muscle strength, while basil is highly recommended for people with blood pressure issues.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serving: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter
• 1/4 cup Basil Leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 1/4 cup Whipped Pouring Cream
• 4 cups Vegetable Stock
• 1 tbsp Flour
• 2 cups Romaine Lettuce or Lettuce, sliced
• 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp Oil

Method:

1. In a large pan, heat oil and melt butter over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions until softened.
2. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Stir in the lettuce and cook until it wilts.
4. Add flour and vegetable stock, then season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
5. Once the soup reaches a boil, remove from heat and add chopped basil leaves.
6. Puree the mixture using a hand blender or transfer to a blender until smooth.
7. Add lemon juice to the soup and stir well.
8. Pour a bit of whipped cream just before serving and serve hot.

3) Kale Soup

A superfood soup that is healthy, easy, and quick to make is the best combination there is. If you are looking to curl up with a good book on a cold winter evening, kale soup is your best bet to go with it. This ultimate green soup is full of healthy nutrients and has an exotically yummy taste. As this is a gluten-free and vegan recipe that can be made easily at home, it is easy on the stomach. And kale is anyway one of the healthiest green leafy there is.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serving: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1 Potato, peeled and diced
• 4 cups Vegetable Stock
• 2 cups Kale, chopped
• 1 cup Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp Oil
• Optional: Dash of Cream for serving

Method:

• Heat oil in a pan and sauté garlic, onions, and diced potato until they become soft (about 5-7 minutes).
• Pour in the vegetable stock and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add milk and kale to the pan and cook until the kale has completely wilted (about 8-10 minutes).
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Use an immersion blender or transfer to a blender to puree the soup until smooth.
• Serve hot and garnish with a dash of cream if desired.

4) Pak Choi and Lemongrass Soup

Lemongrass can open up a congested chest and nose, which is why this soup that essentially tastes like this exotic herb with the goodness of pak choi is such a great choice for cold winters. A clear and lightweight variety, the pak choi, and lemongrass soup is quite ideal for winters. It is easy to make, good on the stomach, filling and warms you from the inside. Pak choi is also a rich source of vitamin C which helps your body fight the free radicals. It is also great for skin and cell repair by protecting your internal organs. And bonus! You can add your favourite noodles to this soup and make delicious pak choi lemongrass noodle soup.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serving: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1-inch piece of Ginger, grated
• 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1 stalk Lemongrass, crushed
• 1 Onion, finely chopped
• 4 cups Water
• 1 cup Pak Choi, chopped
• 1 cup Carrots, julienned
• 2 cups Noodles
• 2 cups Cubed Vegetables of Choice (e.g., zucchini, bell peppers)
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp Chili Flakes (optional)

Method:

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, onions, and lemongrass, sautéing until aromatic.
2. Pour in water and add cubed vegetables (if using). Let it simmer until the flavours are infused.
3. Add carrots and noodles to the pot, cooking until the noodles are soft and tender.
4. Stir in pak choi and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, add soy sauce, and mix well. Adjust seasoning with chilli flakes if desired.

5) Rasam with Pepper and Tomatoes

A classic Indian favourite and an effective and strong remedy for the common cold and cough, the pepper and tomato rasam is ideal for cold winter evenings. Rasam is consumed as a digestive after-food mix in many South Indian states as it has condiments and spices that help with digestion. Its exact balance of tangy, sweet, spicy, and hot flavours ensures that it gives relief and comfort from the cold and makes you warm from the inside.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serving: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 large Tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tsp Whole Black Pepper
• 10-12 Curry Leaves
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp Fresh Coriander, chopped
• 4 cups Water
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 4-5 Garlic Cloves
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1 tbsp Tamarind (soaked in warm water)
• 1 tsp Oil or Ghee
• 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
• 2 Whole Red Chilies

Method:

1. Soak the tamarind in a little warm water for 5-10 minutes to extract the juice. Remove the pulp and set it aside.
2. In a mixer, grind cumin seeds, pepper, and garlic to a coarse paste.
3. In a saucepan, combine the tamarind juice, chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, crushed pepper, cumin-garlic paste, salt, and curry leaves. Bring to a boil.
4. Simmer on low flame for 5-7 minutes.
5. In a kadhai or small pan, heat oil or ghee. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, and whole red chillies. Let them splutter.
6. Pour the tempering (tadka) over the hot rasam.
7. Garnish with chopped coriander before serving.