Few things in this world bring me as much joy as the chance to be cozy. Curling up by the fireplace, nursing a warm mug of cocoa or simply being wrapped up in a blanket all soothe my soul, but as I’ve grown older something I once dreaded is what I look forward to as the cold winter months beckon: eating soup.
A piping bowl of soup can take any dreary winter day and turn it into an opportunity to slow down – literally and figuratively – and enjoy the small things in a generally fast-paced world.
I consider myself a soup connoisseur of sorts; I have no culinary training, but I know what tastes good. Here’s my list of the best soups to enjoy this winter.
Pozole rojo
My favorite soup of the season is the beautiful yet simple and delicious pozole rojo. It’s a soup that consists of hominy and pork, garnished with shredded cabbage and radish. There are three prominent types of pozole: pozole blanco (white), pozole verde (green) and pozole rojo (red), but I prefer the roundness of pozole rojo compared to the other pozoles. Pozole rojo gets its color from the salsa added to it, made of ancho and guajillo chiles. Simply thinking about it makes my mouth water. I can write a whole article about how much I love pozole, but unless someone asks me to, it will never be written.
Caldo de res
Caldo de res, or Mexican beef soup, is high on this list because of how hearty it is. Bone-in beef shank and chuck roast are simmered until tender with corn on the cob, green beans, chayote, potatoes, carrots, onion and a host of other veggies to add to taste. It’s easy to make, it’s hearty and it delights my taste buds as much as it delights my stomach.
French onion soup
Caramelized onion, broth, cheese and bread. Really, what more do you need? French onion soup is an adventure for the senses; it’s aromatic, it looks delectable and it’s simply delicious.
The sweetness of the onions and saltiness of the broth dance divinely along the tastebuds, bringing a jolt of life to any soup enjoyer on a cold winter day.
Chicken noodle soup
This is a classic, and there’s a reason it’s so popular during this season. Not only is it delicious, but it provides the body almost everything it needs to be healthy when sick. Chicken noodle soup is a balanced meal with vegetables, carbohydrates, proteins and electrolytes. It’s comforting, it’s delicious and it’s healthy.
Caldo de albondigas
My paternal grandmother taught me how to make caldo de albondigas, or Mexican meatball soup, when I spent an August in Mexico with my family.
Although some people add veggies, my grandma taught me to cook it bare-bones, with a soup flavored with garlic, chile de arbol and onion with meatballs formed from ground beef, rice and egg.
Split pea soup
This simple yet wholesome, flavorful dish was something I only recently started enjoying. As a child I frowned at the green, mushy-looking slop my mom would make. But a few years ago, like years before, my maternal grandparents visited the town of Solvang, Calif., and brought back a bag of split peas from Pea Soup Andersen’s in the neighboring town of Buellton: perhaps my palette had changed from years prior, because when I tasted the soup again the peas paired heavenly with veggies and brothy, herby flavors.
For a more hearty soup, add some ham, bacon or potatoes.
