Winter is coming but there’s nothing to fear, for with the arrival of the cold also comes the arrival of warm comforting soups for you to enjoy. There’s just no better feeling in winter than coming in from the cold to a steaming bowl of your favorite soup. However, finding the time to prepare delicious soup recipes can be tricky, that’s why Minute® Rice wants to guide you through some of the best soup recipes for winter that you can make with just 5 ingredients or less!
Advantages of Making Making Winter Soup
Soup in winter has a whole lot of upside. Not only does it make for a comforting meal to help us endure the cold weather, but it’s also really versatile and won’t take too much of your precious time to prepare. With just a few ingredients, you can find the perfect soup recipe to meet your needs. What’s more, you can always fashion a soup out of leftover ingredients. There’s no need to toss meats or grains out when your meal is done, all you have to do is keep a few key principles in mind and today’s dinner becomes tomorrow’s soup.
How to Make Soup with Leftovers – Keys to Victory
- Stock up on stock and broth! Make sure you don’t run out of your favorite broths and stocks, whether they be chicken, beef or vegetable, they are essential for making your soup savory and flavorful.
- Don’t waste a roast: Turn Sunday roasts into Monday soups. Put aside leftover meat and bones from the roast to use in your soup.
- Add rice: Store your leftover rice and keep it to add substance and texture to your soup.
- Keep your pantry stocked with canned goods: Having a selection of canned goods to choose from means you’ll never be stuck for soup inspiration. A humble can of beans or chickpeas in combination with some leftover meat makes for an terrific soup recipe, while some juicy canned tomatoes are ideal for adding to a soup made with leftover vegetables.
Tips and Tricks for Making Delicious Winter Soups
As far as easy to make meals go, soup recipes rank among the best. However, making truly great-tasting soup requires just a pinch of technique. It’s not simply a matter of throwing ingredients in a pot and boiling, there are a few more things to keep in mind in order to get the most out of your winter soup recipe.
- Brown your vegetables prior to adding water. This will help release the flavors into the soup once you add water.
- Let the vegetables sweat, i.e., simmer before you boil to further release their juices.
- Season your soup as you go. The herbs and spices that you add need to be absorbed gradually. It’s no use adding them all from the get-go or all at the end. Take it pinch by pinch and taste as you go. Only you know best when your soup is right.
- Add grains to the mix, rice and quinoa are great for transforming the texture of your soup.
- Add a topping of cheese at the end for extra flavor. A little cheddar on top goes a long way.
So, now that you’re got the low-down on the preparation side of things, as promised, let’s dive into some simple soup recipes in 5 ingredients or less!
Easy Chicken Soup Recipes
We all have days in winter when we feel a little under the weather, and on those days nothing quite hits the spot like a bowl of warm and savory chicken soup. If you’re looking for a comforting soup that packs a protein punch, then this Homestyle Four-Grain & Chicken Soup might be right for you. Made with Minute Brown, Red and Wild Rice Quinoa, and ready in 15 minutes, it’s a soup you’ll be glad to come in from the cold to!
Then, for an even simpler recipe with just 4 ingredients, try this Country Chicken & Rice Soup. Made with delicious and convenient Minute White Rice Cups, meal time couldn’t be easier!
Finally, to add a little Mexican flair to your soup, this Chicken Tortilla Soup with Minute® Jalapeño Rice Cups is a surefire crowd pleaser. Succulent chicken and juicy jalapeños combine to bring you a flavorful meal that will warm you to your core. Best of all: you only need 5 ingredients–not to mention 5 minutes–to make it!
Winter Soup Recipes: Hot Soups with Vegetables
If you’re in the mood for a meatless soup recipe to warm you up this winter, Minute® Rice has you covered. For a sweet and fragrant soup option try our Basil Rice and Tomato Soup. Remember those canned tomatoes we told you about earlier? This is precisely where they come in handy.
Alternatively, for lovers of cheese, this Cheddar and Broccoli Soup, made with 4 staple ingredients, is a quick and easy soup recipe that might find its way into your weekly meal roster!
Ideas for Serving and Pairing Winter Soups
When it comes to the best ingredients to pair with winter soups, there are endless possibilities to enhance your meal time experience. Here are some ideas for sides to make your soups even more satisfying:
- Crusty Bread and Butter
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Fresh Salad
- Savory Herb Garlic Toast
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
Sometimes the simplest solutions in life are the best, and that old adage holds up in the kitchen just as well as it does in other areas of life. Good, wholesome food doesn’t have to cost you time. At Minute® Rice, we’re committed to bringing you a whole world of flavors you can enjoy in a matter of minutes. Whether it’s for soups or other recipes, we’re here to make your life in the kitchen easier, giving you more time to pursue all the things that excite you in the world.
