The French take soup very seriously. Are you feeling a little under the weather? A bowl of soup is the answer. Looking to shed a few kilos? Allez! Soup for dinner. Feeling a chill from the Minstral*? You can already smell a big pot of soup bubbling on the stove.
Nutritious and comforting, soups are incredible versatile. I love that they are an important part of children's diets in France but can also be a perfectly appropriate way to start a fancy dinner party (with the right garnish, bien sûr).
In our family, from late fall to early spring you can find me, on any given weekend, cooking a large cocotte of soup. There is something incredibly homey about a big pot of soup - it is an essential part of any French home cook's repertoire.
Equipment for making Soups:
A big stockpot - great for making big batches of soup. I use my Le Creuset Marseille Blue 16QT the most. It is the perfect size for making freezer soups as well.
My 8QT Le Creuset Caribbean Blue Stockpot is ideal for making Potage aux Légumes or boiling pasta.
Making French Onion Soup? The heavy bottom of a cast iron cocotte is better for the caramelizing onions without burning them!
The easiest way to purée soups is with an immersion blender - so much neater than pouring soup into a stand blender! This is the Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender set I have used for almost 10 years now.
A large cutting board that doesn't slide on your counter - making "la mise en place" much easier. I put rubber rings underneath it to secure it from slipping.
The Best French Soup Recipes
Here are some of the best French Soup Recipes I have shared on the blog. Click on the link below each photo for the full recipe:
French Onion Soup:
Le Chef perfected his French onion Soup Gratinée recipe while working at a 3 Michelin star restaurant in the French ski station of Courchevel. We worked together to make it simple for home cooks with no professional culinary training (like myself!) to follow. What makes this recipe unique is that it is chicken stock based for a lighter, more fragrant flavor - the slow steaming of the onions also really brings out their taste. Perfect for cooler temperatures!
Potage aux Légumes:
Potage aux Légumes is by far, my most popular recipe on Pinterest. This recipe is super easy to make and even easier to customize using whatever vegetables you have leftover at the end of the week. My number one trick for reducing food waste in our kitchen - turning lackluster vegetables into a delicious, nutritious soup.
Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Sage
Creamy Butternut squash Soup with Crispy Sage is wonderful to eat through the week when you are craving a comforting meal but can also be served as the appetizer course at a fancy dinner party. The trick for making the crispy sage garnish is one that you will want to save!
Magical Leek Soup
Magical Leek Soup - the French woman's diet secret, as referenced in "Emily in Paris". Le Chef's Wife twist on the recipe is delicious and family friendly. It tastes like comfort food yet is incredibly healthy for you. Vegan and gluten free. Tasty and pretty enough to be served at a dinner party.
French Lentil Soup
Soupe aux Lentilles , or French Lentil Soup, is made with those dark green Lentilles de Puy. Incredibly healthy for you and also so satisfying. A little bowl is all I need for a full meal. So yummy and freezes great too!
Pumpkin & Honeynut Squash Soup
This Pumpkin & Honeynut Squash Soup recipe feels like Fall. All of the fall flavors you love with a surprising hint of rosemary that elevates this recipe to Chef level. Another great recipe to serve when company is coming.
Provençal Tomato & Basil Soup
A Provençal twist on a classic tomato soup. This Tomato & Basil Soup with Goat Cheese Tartine recipe is exactly what you want to cook on a rainy day. Rich and soothing yet with the delicious addition of fresh basil that makes it absolutely unforgettable.
La Soupe au Pistou
La Soupe au Pistou is a Provençal classic! Best enjoyed in the summer when the vegetables are fresh from the garden, but I like to eat this soup all year long. It is a deliciously healthy meal-in-a-bowl that reminds me of the South of France with every garlicky, basil-y bite!
Last but not least, if you haven't tried my Baking Baguettes for Beginners Recipe , it is wonderfully easy and will elevate your homemade soup to the complete French Bistro experience.
Are there any other soup recipes you would like me to share with you? What is your favorite soup?
Bon Appétit mes amis!
Anina Belle
*The Minstral is an icy wind that blows through the South of France in the winter. Surprisingly chilly!
(This post contains affiliate links - if you purchase from the links I have shared I receive a small commission - at no cost to you! Thank you for supporting my business. )
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