10 Cozy Soup Recipes from Around the World (Perfect for Fall & Winter)

👉 When the days get shorter and colder, nothing beats a big bowl of homemade soup. Almost every country has its own favourite – from Turkish lentil soup to Georgian kharcho and French onion soup. Here are 10 cozy soup recipes from around the world, all easy to make at home and perfect for autumn and winter.

1. Mercimek Çorbası (Turkey) 🇹🇷

Silky red lentil soup blended with onion, carrot and potato, finished with sizzling mint-paprika butter and a squeeze of lemon. Ready in 35 minutes and very cheap.
👉 Get the mercimek çorbası recipe

2. Harira (Morocco) 🇲🇦

Thick tomato, lentil and chickpea soup with ginger, cinnamon and lots of fresh herbs – the traditional soup for breaking the fast in Ramadan.
👉 Get the harira recipe

3. Ash Reshteh (Iran) 🇮🇷

A hearty Persian soup of herbs, beans, lentils and noodles, topped with tangy kashk, crispy onions and mint oil. A whole meal in a bowl.
👉 Get the ash reshteh recipe

4. Kharcho (Georgia) 🇬🇪

Georgia’s famous beef and rice soup, thickened with ground walnuts and flavoured with tkemali plum sauce, garlic and fresh cilantro.
👉 Get the kharcho recipe

5. Chikhirtma (Georgia) 🇬🇪

A silky Georgian chicken soup thickened with egg and a little vinegar – light, tangy and the best cure for a cold day.
👉 Get the chikhirtma recipe

6. French Onion Soup (France) 🇫🇷

Slowly caramelised onions in rich broth, topped with toasted bread and bubbling melted cheese. Pure comfort.
👉 Get the French onion soup recipe

7. Green Borscht (Ukraine) 🇺🇦

A tangy sorrel soup with potatoes, herbs and boiled egg, served with a spoon of sour cream.
👉 Get the green borscht recipe

8. Chorizo & Chickpea Soup (Spain) 🇪🇸

Smoky chorizo, chickpeas and vegetables in a paprika broth – quick, filling and budget-friendly.
👉 Get the chorizo soup recipe

9. Laksa (Malaysia & Singapore) 🇲🇾

A spicy coconut curry noodle soup with king prawns, rich with lemongrass and chili.
👉 Get the laksa recipe

10. Chicken & Tofu Noodle Soup (Asia) 🍜

A light, gingery broth with chicken, tofu, noodles and greens – ready in about 30 minutes.
👉 Get the noodle soup recipe

Bonus: Fasolada (Greece) 🇬🇷

Greece’s national bean soup – white beans, tomato and vegetables with plenty of olive oil. Vegan and very cheap.
👉 Get the fasolada recipe

Bonus: Dushbara (Azerbaijan) 🇦🇿

Tiny lamb dumplings in clear broth with dried mint and garlic vinegar.
👉 Get the dushbara recipe

🥣 Tips for the Best Homemade Soup

• Start with onions. Cook them slowly in butter or oil – they are the base of flavour for almost every soup.
• Toast your spices for 30 seconds before adding liquid to wake them up.
• Use good stock – or water plus a little extra salt, herbs and a squeeze of lemon at the end.
• Finish with acid. A spoon of lemon juice, vinegar or sour cream makes the flavours brighter.
• Make a big pot. Most soups taste even better the next day and freeze well for up to 3 months.

❓ FAQ

Which soup is the healthiest?

Lentil and bean soups like mercimek çorbası, harira and ash reshteh are full of fibre and plant protein and naturally low in fat.

Which soups freeze well?

Lentil, bean and tomato-based soups freeze very well. Soups with noodles or egg are best eaten fresh.

What is the cheapest soup to make?

Turkish red lentil soup – lentils, onion, carrot and spices cost very little and make 4 big bowls.

👉 More ideas: 15 Cheap Dinner Recipes from Around the World · 25 Cozy Comfort Food Recipes

🍲 Looking for something heartier? Try the Georgian chakapuli recipe – a brothy lamb stew with tarragon and sour plums – and serve any soup with Azerbaijani kutab flatbreads.