As the year gets colder, nothing tastes – or feels – better than a delicious soup or stew. However, when the years pass, you’ve probably grown a bit tired of the usual staples. They’re tried and true favorites, but you might miss out on a variety of broth-based dishes that you may have never heard of. Here, we’re featuring some unique soups and stews packed with flavor and consisting of ingredients that you love. Try out a few of these recipes and share them with family and loved ones when you gather for seasonal holidays. We think that you’ll surprise and delight both yourself and any guest.
Soups
• Pumpkin Soup
While this soup contains ingredients that aren’t too out of the ordinary for the season, it often isn’t the first pumpkin-based dish that comes to mind. However, this healthy and smooth soup is at the top of our list. Try it with pork, such as a nice ham sandwich or BLT, it’s a versatile protein that works with just about any pairing.
Ingredients:
• A pumpkin
• Broth
• Garlic
• Onion
• Cream
Instructions:
1. Peel and cut your pumpkin into cubes or chunks.
2. Insert your cut pumpkin, broth, garlic, and onion into a pot.
3. Boil your ingredients for 15 minutes, or if your pumpkin starts to feel tender.
4. Blend your ingredients to turn this into a creamy soup
5. Add salt, pepper, and cream.
6. For an optional kick, add a dash of sautéd Thai red curry paste if you want some heat!
• Apple Soup
Apples are a staple fall fruit. You can use them to make pies, cobblers, or other desserts, but did you know you can also make a pretty tasty soup out of them? An apple soup is so rich and filling that it’s one of the best comfort soups for cold weather. You can experiment with different types of apples to personalize them into a dish all your own. It goes great with roasted pork loin and some varieties of veal.
Ingredients:
• Canola oil
• A tart apple
• A diced and peeled potato
• Finely chopped yellow onion
• Sliced celery
• Sage
• Paprika
• Broth
• Sour cream
• Salt and pepper
Instructions:
1. Set your stove to medium heat and add oil to your pan.
2. Add your chosen apple, potato, chopped onion, and sliced celery, then stir for 5 minutes.
3. Add a dash of salt and pepper, a pinch of paprika, and sage. Let it cook for about 30 seconds.
4. Add broth.
5. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Blend your soup with sour cream until it is smooth.
• Stuffed Pepper Soup
If you’ve been craving a warm stuffed pepper and have wanted to give the classic dish a fun spin, this is the soup for you! This is a great dinner option filled with delicious vegetables and protein, perfect for heating you on the coldest of days.
Ingredients:
• Your choice of protein: sausage, chicken, ground beef, or ground turkey
• Bell peppers of your preference
• Onions
• Garlic
• Beef broth
• Tomatoes
• White rice
• Shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat, then add your preferred protein, cooking until it is brown. Set aside for later.
2. Sauté your onion, bell pepper, and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add your broth, tomatoes, and protein. Keep it at a simmer and stir every once in a while for about half an hour.
4. Add cooked white rice.
5. When served, garnish your bowl with a bit of shredded cheddar cheese.
Stews
• Guinness Stew
This amazing beef stew contains a special ingredient that makes its flavor so rich and powerful. As you might expect, it’s Guinness Beer! It’s what gives the color of this stew such an alluring brown gravy color, as well as making a stew that’s as creamy as the beer’s iconic foam. Follow our recipe and bring this pub delicacy to your home today.
Ingredients:
• Guinness beer
• Chuck beef
• Bacon
• Garlic
• Onion
• Carrot
• Celery
• Flour
• Tomato paste
• Chicken broth
• Thyme and bay leaves
Instructions:
1. In a pot with oil, cook beef until it is well browned.
2. Sauté your bits of bacon, garlic, onion, carrots, and celery together.
3. Add flour and tomato paste to increase the thickness of your sauce.
4. In addition to your herbs, pour your broth and beer into the mix.
5. Have this stew simmer for about two hours, then uncovered for thirty minutes to achieve tender beef.
• Pressure Cooker Chicken and Chorizo Stew
A pressure cooker is one of the best kitchen tools for making the best stews. If you want to beat the cold this season, try out this hearty, spicy, and simple stew that utilizes the convenience of a pressure cooker.
Ingredients:
• Diced chorizo
• Bone-in chicken breasts, drumsticks, or thighs
• Olive oil
• Sliced onion
• Paprika
• Chickpeas
• Diced tomatoes
• Chicken stock
• Sherry vinegar
• Salt and pepper
Instructions:
1. Heat oil over medium-high heat in the pressure cooker.
2. Add and stir diced chorizo for about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in onions for around 3 minutes.
4. Add broth, paprika, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, and your selection of chicken, then season with salt and pepper.
5. Cook under high pressure for 15 minutes.
6. Stir on high heat with vinegar until thick, then serve.
• Shrimp Stew
If you love seafood and are looking for a unique soup to comfort you when it’s cold out, try out this super-easy shrimp stew.
Ingredients:
• Shrimp
• Diced tomatoes
• Green pepper
• Celery
• Onion
• Salt and pepper
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Oregano
Instructions:
1. Combine diced tomatoes, green pepper, celery, and onion in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and oregano, then simmer.
3. Add shrimp, then stir occasionally and let simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes.