Whether you’re looking for hearty winter soup recipes or just a simple cold-weather soup, this list will give you a glimpse (and a taste) of how other parts of the world are preparing some of their traditional comfort-in-a-bowl!
Everything you need for these hearty soups is readily available, so don’t worry about any country or region-specific ingredients.
All you need to focus on is when to schedule each of them. Enjoy!
NORTHERN EUROPE
Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
A traditional recipe from up north. Try a spoonful of it, and you will be ‘transported in the middle of Helsinki market‘ — that was a quote from one of my readers.
That sums it up.
Swedish Blueberry Soup (Blåbärssoppa)
Nope, it’s not blueberry juice; it’s Blueberry Soup!
You can easily prepare this traditional dessert from Sweden in the comfort of your own home — and the whole year-round!
WESTERN EUROPE
German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
Here’s an authentic potato soup recipe from Oma. So easy to make but delivers so much flavor in a bowl.
It’s bound to be one that you will keep making once you’ve given it a try.
If you’re a cauliflower fan, you would love this soup for cold weather; if not, it would change your mind. I know mine did.
Creamy and buttery — hard to stop after a bowl, for sure.
German Goulash Soup (Gulaschsuppe)
Same spice as the stew, but lighter.
Not to worry though, it doesn’t mean this soup is less filling. It just means less cooking and waiting time — but with the same delightful flavor.
Hard to say ‘no’ to this one. It’s vegetarian; it’s delicious, and it’s actually great the whole year-round.
The nuttiness from the chickpeas, plus the freshness of the herb and lemon juice — you will surely be planning for the next time you will cook it as you reach for that second serving!
Portuguese Green Soup (Caldo Verde)
I bet you already have all the ingredients for this one. It exemplifies how simple Portuguese cuisine is — but undeniably delicious.
The addition of chorizo at the end elevates the soup’s flavor, smokiness, and comfort in a bowl.
MIDDLE EAST
If you’ve never tried celeriac in a soup before, start with this classic dish from Turkey.
Please do not skip the garlic and dried mint garnish — it brings this delicious winter soup to an entirely new level!
Lebanese Sour Lentil Soup (Adas Bhamod)
An excellent vegetarian soup for cold weather, and you don’t need an immersion blender or any cream at all.
Cilantro and onions are the base flavor of this warming soup, so simple but nourishing and packed with flavor.
So, take your pick and let me know what you think in the comments section below — stay warm! 🙂
Linda Trdina
One of your next soups to try is Turkish Red Lentil soup. Another is Hungarian mushroom.