Tasty tips kick off soup month

Every fall, I dedicate an entire month to soup recipes. Yup, that’s right, four weeks of soup recipes, ideas, make-ahead tips and articles all about the perfect dish that warms us up just as the weather turns.

Winter is most certainly coming. I spent all Sunday morning listening to the wind outside my window howl and whip. The two first things to come to mind were, “There’s not a chance I’m not getting out of this bed.” The second was, “Must make soup.”

So today, I am out to enroll some of my favorite soup-making folks to share their recipes! Stay tuned over the next month for amazing recipe shares.

As far as soup goes, I’d like to point out a few terrific things about my favorite dish. First and foremost, soup can be as rustic and simple as some legumes simmered in a pot with water, onions and a few spices. With one $1.50 bag of beans, split peas or lentils and a couple of vegetables in the fridge, you can have a most nourishing and complete dinner.

Next, what better than to make a big batch of chicken soup and switch up your nightly spin on it? Chicken soup is one of those quintessential recipes that spans the cultural spectrum with each region or country adding little twists. Latin cultures will often add corn, hominy or yucca to their soup, while Ashkenazi Jews often use matzo balls or various shapes of egg noodles to give more substance to the broth. In Italy, most home cooks have a “brood” or broth recipe up their sleeve they can add to risotto or incorporate into a soup. Some like to throw in a “gallina” (hen), too.

You can switch up your own simple chicken soup recipe by adding white or wild rice, quinoa or extra vegetables. Garnish can also do wonders for chicken soup. For example, adding some freshly chopped dill one night and then cilantro, crisp tortilla, avocado and lime juice the next night is like having an entirely different meal. This week, see below for some great chicken soup tips. No matter the recipe, these will help you make the most of your wonderful soup.

Ten tips for making great chicken soup