I was never much of a soup girl.
For years and years if I was offered soup or salad at a restaurant, I would always choose the salad. When my mom would make soup for dinner I would eat it begrudgingly. When coworkers would make a lunch run to Hale and Hearty, I would always sit back at my desk — or ask one of them to grab me a half sandwich. I wanted nothing to do with soups, stews, gumbos, chowders, bouillabaisses, or chili.
Then out of nowhere, something switched. All of a sudden, I was eating New England Clam Chowder on a weekly basis. I found myself making lentil soup according to the recipe on the pack of Goya’s dry lentils. I eventually got a Hale and Hearty loyalty punch card before the location by my office closed.
And now here I am, sharing soup recipes from around the world.
In hot or cold climates, soup is the universal dish. Is there any society in the world that doesn’t make soup? We cook soup for breakfast or dinner. It can be savory, sweet, spicy, fishy. Thick, thin, creamy, or hearty. There are just so many types of soup around the world.
Here are 10 soups and stews from around the world to inspire your winter cooking adventures! Recipes are linked two languages for those of you who want to practice your languages while you cook or eat!
Keywords: Global soup and stew recipes, Winter soups and stews from around the world, International soup recipes for winter, Easy global stew recipes, World soups and stews for cold weather, Cozy winter soup ideas, Traditional soups from different countries, Learn languages through cooking
1. French: Onion Soup (Soupe à l’oignon)
This is another soup that I try to make once a year. If you love onions, this is a really simple soup to make. I follow the recipe in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking and it always comes out perfectly. With crusty bread and melted gruyere cheese on top, this soup can’t be anything but filling and hearty.
Vocabulary:
- l’oignon (onion)
- vin blanc (white wine)
- tasses (cups)
Recipes: Challenge yourself to try a recipe (linked below) in French, if French is your target language!
Language Tip: Learn the French verbs “mijoter” (to simmer) and “écumer” (to skim) as you cook.
2. Japanese: Miso Soup (味噌汁, Miso Shiru)
A traditional Japanese soup made with miso paste, tofu, seaweed, and dashi broth. Miso is high in antioxidants and essential minerals. It’s a light soup packed with various B vitamins, vitamins E, K and folic acid.
Vocabulary:
- 味噌 (Miso) – fermented soybean paste
- 豆腐 (Tōfu) – tofu
- 海藻 (Kaiso) – seaweed
Recipes: Challenge yourself to the Japanese recipe below, if Japanese is your target language!
Language Tip: Learn the Japanese verb “混ぜる” (mazeru, to mix) while preparing the soup.
3. Mexican: Tortilla Soup (Sopa de Tortilla)
This is a spicy, flavorful Mexican soup with a chicken or vegetable and tomato broth featuring carrot, onion, chicken and chilies. The eponymous fried tortilla strips are served atop with lime, avocado and crema to enhance the flavor.
Fun Fact:About 8% of Spanish vocabulary comes from the Arabic language. The Spanish word zanahoria (carrot), for example, comes from the Andalusian Arabic word safunnárya,سَفُنَّارْيَة which is derived from the Classical Arabic isfannāriyya. إِسْفَنَارِيَّة Isfannāriyya in turn comes from the ancient Greek staphylínē agría, σταφυλίνη ἀγρία, which means “wild carrot”.
Recipes : Give your Spanish skills a whirl by cooking with a Spanish recipe linked below!
Language Tip: Just for funsies, you can watch the 2001 movie of the same name while you are cooking this dish. Tortilla Soup is a dramatic comedy chronicling familial relationships between three grown daughters and their semi-retired father.
4. Moroccan: Harira
Maybe you wouldn’t think that a country on the edge of the Sahara would have soup as part of its cuisine, but like I said earlier, regardless of temperatures, soup is everywhere! Besides, the desert gets cold and Morocco gets snow. Duh! This hearty, tomato-based Moroccan soup is made with lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes, and a blend of warming turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon spices. It is usually associated with breaking the fast during Ramadan but is also prepared and enjoyed all year.
Vocabulary:
- حمص (Hummus) – chickpeas
- عدس (‘Adas) – lentils
- بهارات (Baharat) – spices
Recipes: Learning Arabic or French? Why not challenge yourself to follow one of these recipes?
In English / In Arabic / In French
Language Tip: Learn the Arabic verbs “طبخ” (tabkh, to cook) and “غلى” (ghala, to boil). The Moroccan versions and Algerian versions differ. Some people use this soup for iftar.
5. Thai: Tom Yum Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง)
In Episode 99 of my podcast Speaking Tongues, my guest Grace briefly talked to us about the spiciness of Thai food. She mentioned that many people come to Thailand thinking they can handle the spice but often end up humbled by how powerful this flavor profile can be. Yikes! The name “tom yam” is composed of two words in the Thai language. “Tom” refers to the boiling process, while “Yam” or “Yum” means mixed. There are many variations of this soup with a base of either broth, coconut or water.
Vocabulary:
- มะขาม(Mak̄hām) – tamarind
- มะพร้าว(Maphr̂āw) – coconut
- ตะไคร้ (Ta-khrai) – lemongrass
Recipes: Learning Thai? Try out your language skills with the Thai recipe linked below!
Language Tip: Learn the Thai verb “เคี่ยว” (khīao, to simmer) as you prepare this dish.
6. Bahamian: Stew Conch
Stew conch is among my favorite breakfast foods. Truly! On a recent trip to Nassau, Bahamas I ate it every morning and it was a wonderful start to my day each time. This hearty dish is roux based and full of tender conch meat and root veggies like carrots and potatoes.
Conch is eaten in many parts of the the Caribbean but in The Bahamas, Conch is Queen! There are so many ways that Bahamians love to prepare conch including fried, such as in fritters or crack conch, or prepared raw with onion, pepper, and lots of lime juice as you would find in conch salad.
Recipes:
Stew Conch Recipe 1 / Stew Conch Recipe 2
Language Tip: To learn more about Bahamian language, tune in to Episode 159 or Episode 23 of our podcast, Speaking Tongues!
7. Nigeria: Egusi Soup
Egusi Soup is a hearty and flavorful dish made with ground melon seeds (egusi), leafy greens, and a variety of meats or fish. A staple of Nigerian cuisine, it is rich, thick, and deeply comforting, often served with fufu or pounded yam.
Fun Fact: Although this soup is common in Nigeria, it is truly popular throughout west Africa. Egusi is a Yoruba word, and its typical method of cooking it is rooted in Yoruba culinary tradition.
Recipes:
Egusi Soup Recipe 1 / Egusi Soup Recipe 2
Language Tip: When I cook, I love to watch movies at the same time. If you’ve never seen a Nollywood film, this would be a great chance for you to immerse yourself in this dynamic film industry. I recommend checking out this romantic comedy, The Wedding Party.
8. Vietnamese: Sour Fish Soup (Canh Chua Cá)
Canh Chua Cá is a vibrant Vietnamese dish with a perfect balance of sour, sweet, and savory flavors. Made with tamarind, fish, pineapple, and fresh herbs, it’s a signature soup of the Mekong Delta region.
Vocabulary:
- quả dứa – pineapple
- cá – fish
- me – tamarind
Recipes: If you’re learning Vietnamese, you can give this recipe a try in the language to practice!
Language Tip: Learn Vietnamese verbs like “nấu” (to cook) and “nêm” (to season).
9. Ethiopian: Doro Wat
A spicy Ethiopian chicken stew made with berbere spice blend, onions, and boiled eggs. The National dish of Ethiopia, Doro Wat is the Amharic words for Chicken and Stew, respectively.
Fun Fact: If you’ve never cooked with Berbere, you’re in for a treat. It’s a spice mixture with ingredients that vary among households, however, it’s common to find it consists in parts of cayenne, fenugreek, cardamom, coriander, allspice, nutmeg, and clove in addition to spices local and beloved in the Ethiopian/Eritrean regions.
Recipes: If you’re learning Amharic, go on and give this recipe below a try in its original language!
Language Tip: Learn the Amharic verb “ማብሰል” (mabsəl, to boil) while making this dish.
10. Hungarian: Paprika-Spiced Cauliflower and Dumpling Soup
Karfiolleves is a traditional Hungarian soup combining cauliflower, delicate dumplings, and a rich paprika-infused broth. It’s a comforting and wholesome dish that highlights the nation’s love for paprika.
Vocabulary:
- Karfiol – cauliflower
- Paprika – paprika
- Gombócokat – dumplings
Recipes:
Language Tip: Learn the Hungarian verbs “főzni” (to cook) and “párolni” (to stew).
Have you ever tried any of these soups? Will you try any of these recipes! Leave me a comment to let me know.
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