Hi Reader,

The windows were fogged, the air thick with the smell of onions and olive oil, when The One wandered into the kitchen and said, “Did you set off the smoke alarm again, or are we having soup?”
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“Caldo,” I corrected, because some habits are eternal.
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There’s something nearly spiritual about stirring a pot of soup in January. Maybe it’s the quiet choreography of it—the slice, the sizzle, the slow surrender of vegetables into something far greater than themselves. Or maybe it’s just the illusion of control: when the world feels chaotic, at least I can manage broth.
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The truth? Every bowl is a small miracle. Not because it’s fancy or photogenic, but because it turns scraps and scraps of time into something sustaining. A pot that feeds you for days, that greets you midweek when you’ve run out of willpower, groceries, and clean socks.
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Soup (sorry, caldo) doesn’t just warm you—it forgives you for not being your best self.

The Down and Dirty: Soup Season Rules

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• Start with a sweat. Onions and garlic need patience. Let them go golden, not burnt. That’s your entire flavor foundation right there.
• Don’t fear the fridge purge. Limp celery, half an onion, a sad carrot—congratulations, you’ve got dinner.
• Layer, don’t dump. Add ingredients in order of stubbornness. Beans before spinach. Potatoes before parsley.
• Season twice. Once at the start, once at the end. Salt isn’t magic—it’s choreography.
• Finish like you care. A drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, a handful of herbs. It’s how soup turns into something worth bragging about.

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WHAT'S INSIDE...

• ​Ina Garten's Easy Tomato Soup​
• ​Rustic Lentil Soup​
• ​French Onion Soup​
• ​Portuguese Bean Soup​
• ​Cuban Black Bean Soup​
• ​Old-Fashioned Minestrone Soup​
• ​Brodo Di Pollo ~ Italian Chicken Soup​
• ​Cauliflower & Blue Cheese Soup​

​Ina Garten's Easy Tomato Soup​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.72 from 32 votes

This tomato soup is spiced with saffron, which has enough flavor to stand up to the Gruyère in the croutons. And the whole thing is awfully easy to put together, beating out anything from a can, any day.

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​Rustic Lentil Soup​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.93 from 14 votes

Rustic lentil soup is full of nourishment, comfort, and flavor. A simmering pot of green lentils, tomatoes, carrots, celery, potatoes, and spices. Add sausage, bacon, and pancetta, if you're so inclined.

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​French Onion Soup​

This French onion soup tastes just like the classic, with plenty of onions and leeks in a rich homemade broth. Here's how to make it.

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​Portuguese Bean Soup​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.89 from 18 votes

Perfect for a leisurely afternoon cook, this is one of those soups where you throw everything in the pot and simmer until pau (finished). Usually, the strong seasoning of homemade sausage is enough to flavor the broth, but if you’re using a milder store-bought variety like I often do, you can supplement the warm flavor with a little pumpkin pie spice.

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​Cuban Black Bean Soup​

This Cuban black bean soup is made from scratch from dried black beans, peppers, onion, garlic, cumin, and vinegar. lt's cheap, simple, and vegetarian.

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​Old-Fashioned Minestrone Soup​

This old-fashioned minestrone soup is chock-full of carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, kale, zucchini, beans, and pasta...but gets an unexpected drizzle of pesto that transforms a frugal veggie-bin soup into something special.

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​Brodo Di Pollo ~ Italian Chicken Soup​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.73 from 11 votes

Brodo di pollo. That's Italian for "the most gosh darn comforting and restorative chicken soup ever to cross the lips of someone who's under the weather or just needs some soothing sustenance."

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​Cauliflower & Blue Cheese Soup​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 from 15 votes

This elegant cauliflower soup is rich and cheesy, thanks to the addition of blue cheese.

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