Recipe: Vegan Lentil Tortilla Soup

Vegan Lentil Tortilla Soup
eatwithclarity.com
4.8 stars

Such a hearty soup that is super healthy and easy! Yet another great recipe from eatwithclarity.com!

Ingredients: yellow onion, red bell pepper, fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, red lentils, black beans, corn, vegetable broth, cashew cream, tomato paste, garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, oregano, brown or coconut sugar, olive oil, lime juice, salt

Serve with: tortilla chips, avocado, lime, cilantro

Tips/Notes:

• Added red pepper
• Used a little half and half instead of cashew cream
• Used a serrano instead of a jalapeno
• To make it thicker, used 3 cups of broth instead of 4
• Next time, use 1/2 the amount of lime
• Definitely needs avocado
• Added cheese

Recipe: Spanish Squash Soup

Spanish Squash Soup

America's Test Kitchen 
4.9 stars

We saw this made on American's Test Kitchen (the show on TV) and wrote down the recipe. I honestly wasn't sure how this was going to turn out, but it was absolutely delicious -- so flavorful!

Ingredients: kabocha squash, fennel, leeks, cannellini beans, Italian sausage, vegetable stock, garlic, parsley, red pepper, pepper, salt 

Tips/Notes:

• Used plant-based Beyond Sausage

Recipe: Gluten Free Ramen

Gluten Free Ramen

eatwithclarity.com
5 stars

This was so delicious -- great flavor. I dare say it beats Marcus Samuelsson's Vegetable Ramen Recipe. 

Ingredients: gluten free ramen noodles, eggs, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, edamame, vegetable broth, green onions, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, tamari, rice wine vinegar, white miso paste, sesame seeds and sriracha

Tips/Notes:

• Doubled the recipe
• Used broccoli instead of bok choy
• Added +1/2 tsp of tamari
• Didn't double the vegetable broth but instead add 1 cup of water
• Added tofu

Recipe: Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

Food & Wine Magazine, Feb 2026, p. 66
4.8 stars

We modified this recipe to make it VEGETARIAN -- it was delicious. My only complaint is I felt like there were too many onions like French onion soup. The tofu was a great substitution; make sure to sautee it in advance. Avocado and queso fresco are a must.

Ingredients: chicken stock, rotisserie chicken, white onions, cilantro, can of crushed tomatoes, chipotle in adobo, garlic, bay leaves, cumin seeds, olive oil, kosher salt; avocados, lime wedges, pickled onions, queso fresco, tortilla chips

Tips/Notes:

• Used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock
• Sauteed 2 blocks of tofu and used instead of the rotisserie chicken
• Added cilantro as a garnish
• Added sliced radishes as a garnish
• Did not add pickled onions

Recipe: Gigante Beans with Sausage

Gigante Beans with Sausage

Food & Wine Magazine, Sep 2025, p. 105

4.9 stars

I was SHOCKED how good this soup tasted and how well it turned out. Such a surprise from reading the recipe and seeing how "watery" this was as we didn't necessarily expect it to be like a soup. It was delicious! We made this plant-based using the modifications below. The Parmesan rind is key for adding the umami flavor.

Ingredients: gigante benas or large lima beans, soppressata log, crushed tomatoes, dry white wine, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese rind, Parmesan cheese, garlic, dried Italian seasoning, extra-virgin olive oil, red pepper, Kosher salt, parsley, toasted bread for serving

Tips/Notes:

• Do not add any water
• Used 2 cans of cannellini beans -- next time, use 4 cans
• Used plant-based sausage instead of the soppressata log
• Used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth
• Added cooked quinoa to our bowls 
• Had red wine in the fridge so used it instead of white wine

Recipe: Bean Bourguignon

Bean Bourguignon

America's Test Kitchen
4.8 stars

Wow - you would not miss the meat in this dish. Really great deep flavor from the mushrooms. Had this with toast.

Ingredients: Christmas lima beans, portobello mushrooms, dried porcini mushrooms, carrots, pearl onions, shallot, garlic, flour, thyme, dry red wine, white miso, soy sauce, tomato paste, bay leaves, parsley, extra-virgin olive oil, table salt, pepper

Tips/Notes:

• Used a can of butter beans and a can of cannellini beans since we couldn't find Christmas lima beans (next time, use 3 cans) -- and so skipped the first 2 steps in the recipe 
• Used baby bellas instead of portobellos
• Used chopped white onion instead of pearl onions
• Could add barley to it next time 

Recipe: Smoked Salmon Corn Chowder

Smoked Salmon Corn Chowder

Food & Wine Magazine, Nov 2025, p. 44
5 stars

I wasn't sure about this recipe and how it would turn out, but it was easy, flavorful, and delicious! Restaurant-worthy! I can't wait to eat the leftovers.

Ingredients: smoked salmon fillets, frozen corn, celery, small red potatoes, scallions, shallots, chicken stock, heavy cream, flour, olive oil, butter, Old Bay seasoning, red pepper, thyme, Kosher salt, black pepper

Tips/Notes:

• Used double the number of celery stalks -- could actually triple it next time
• Used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock
• Used 1 tsp of Chesapeake Bay seasoning instead of 1/2 tsp of Old Bay seasoning
• Next time, could add cannellini beans to the chowder for protein (if we don't want to add smoked salmon)

Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chickpea Soup

Creamy Tuscan Chickpea Soup

Food & Wine Magazine, Sep 2025, p. 40
5 stars

This soup was DELICIOUS! We've made various soups like this, but this was different and extremely flavorful, I think due to the sun-dried tomatoes.

Ingredients: Italian sausage, chickpeas, lacinato kale, celery, yellow onion, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, chicken stock, heavy cream, extra-virgin olive oil, basil, Kosher salt

Tips/Notes:

• Used plant-based (Beyond) Sausage. Next time, cook and keep separately as it got gummy in the soup when we ate leftovers.
• Used more celery than called for
• Used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock and less than called for (used some water)
• Add Parmigiano-Reggiano on top next time so the cheese doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan
• Added a little more cream

Recipe: Tomato and Cannellini Bean Soup

Tomato and Cannellini Bean Soup

Bon Appetit Magazine, Nov 2015, p. 60
4.6 stars

Good, healthy soup. See tips/notes below to make this "tastier!"

Ingredients: cannellini beans, 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, fennel bulb, onion, vegetable broth, Swiss chard, garlic, bay leaves, Sherry vinegar, olive oil, red pepper, Kosher salt, roasted almonds

Tips/Notes:

• Used lacinato kale instead of Swiss chard
• Added Monterey Jack cheese on top for serving (it needed something!)
• Had Parmesan bread on the side
• Forgot the roasted almonds for serving!

Recipe: Lentil Stew with Potatoes and Chorizo

Lentil Stew with Potatoes and Chorizo

Food & Wine Magazine, Dec 2024/Jan 2025, p. 54
4.9 stars

This was another recipe where I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. In fact, we were not looking forward to making this recipe. It was GREAT!!!! It's a dish where I looked forward to eating the leftovers. Super simple with lots of flavor.

Ingredients: Spanish chorizo, Yukon potato, carrots, yellow onion, dried brown lentils, sweet mild pimenton, chicken broth, garlic, olive oil, Kosher salt

Tips/Notes:

• Used 2 tsp of a mix of sweet and hot paprika vs. just sweet; use more if you use more veggies
• Used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth
• Used plant-based Spanish chorizo

Recipe: Lasagna Soup

Lasagna Soup

Food & Wine Magazine, Jan 2025, p. 45

4.9 stars

We will definitely make this again! It really is what it says ~ it's a lasagna soup! I thought it was interesting that harissa is an ingredient -- it gives SPICE to it, but you wouldn't guess it was in the dish.

Ingredients: lasagna noodles, Italian sausage, yellow onion, harissa, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, dry white wine, chicken broth, basil, Kosher salt

Tips/Notes:

• It was SPICY! Use 2 Tbsp instead of 3 Tbsp of the harissa
• Did not add any salt, and it was fine
• Used Beyond Sausage
• Used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth

Recipe: Sweet Potato and Kale Soup

Sweet Potato and Kale Soup
Food & Wine Magazine, Oct 2024, p. 53
5 stars

So hearty and flavorful -- I wish we had more leftovers! I think the sage and nutmeg plus bacon must have given it the umami and depth of flavor. The blend of flavors was delicious!

Ingredients: bacon, sweet potatoes, lacinato kale, yellow onion, carrots, celery, sage, broth, Parmesan cheese rind, nutmeg, garlic, Kosher salt, black pepper

Garnish ingredients: salted pepitas, shaved Parmesan cheese

Tips/Notes:

• Didn't use a parmesan rind and it still was super flavorful!

Recipe: Chilled Zucchini Soup

Chilled Zucchini Soup
Food & Wine Magazine
4.9 stars

This recipe from Chef Michael Anthony was just as good as Chef Grant Achatz's Silky Zucchini Soup but it had another layer of complexity because of ALL the other vegetables in it -- there are 12 (including the herbs)! 

We took this recipe and simplifed it by A LOT. See notes below. In short, we sauteed, then blended, then served it hot. We'll eat the leftovers chilled.

Soup Ingredients: zucchini, leek, spinach, yellow onion, shallots, garlic, lemon thyme, parsley, basil, vegetable broth, olive oil, Kosher salt

Garnish: hakurei turnips, summer squash, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper

Tips:

• Literally just sauteed everything, blended it and served. No ice bath, no straining through a wire-mesh strainer, no chilling of the soup.
• Added red pepper when sauteing the vegetables.
• Used 5 sprigs of thyme and lemon zest since we don't have lemon thyme.
• Didn't use turnips.
• Topped with sauteed squash, Parmesan and croutons.

Recipe: Baked Chipotle Cheddar Sweet Potato Chowder

Baked Chipotle Cheddar Sweet Potato Chowder

HalfBakedHarvest.com
5 stars

This was DELICIOUS!!!! It is VERY similar to Half Baked Harvest's Instant Pot Chipotle Chile Corn Chowder. I like this one because it uses sweet potatoes, though both are good.

Can't wait to eat these leftovers! Again, the chipotle in adobo adds so much flavor and complexity to the soup.

Ingredients: sweet potatoes, cheddar cheese, bacon, yellow onion, flour, broth, apple cider, milk, garlic, chipotle in adobo, chili powder, smoked paprika, greek yogurt or sour cream, cilantro, green onion, butter, Kosher salt, pepper

Tips:

• The prep time for this is not 15 min -- it's 30 min
• The cook time is not 35 min -- it's 45-60 min
• Used apple juice instead of apple cider since cider wasn't available

Recipe: 30 Minute Creamy Sesame Miso Ramen with Crispy Mushrooms

30 Minute Creamy Sesame Miso Ramen with Crispy Mushrooms

4.8 stars (after thinking about it, we won't make this one again -- we prefer Marcus Samuelsson's Vegetable Ramen recipe)
HalfBakedHarvest.com

So this dish did not take 30 minutes to make (it took 50 min), and the mushrooms weren't crispy, but overall this was still a really nice ramen recipe. 

We changed some things as you'll see from the notes below, but think next time it'll be even better with double the soup base and the addition of hot chili oil (I didn't realize we didn't have any so used some hot chili crisp).

Ingredients: ramen noodles, kale or spinach, mixed mushrooms, shallots, vegetable broth, dried porcini mushrooms, sesame seeds, chili flakes, cilantro, salted butter or olive oil, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, tahini, white miso paste, hot chili oil

Serve with: eggs, carrots, green onions

Tips/Notes:

• Because of everything extra we added ~ tofu, a ton of kale, cabbage... make 2x the entire soup base
• Added tofu! (definitely add!)
• Instead of using dried porcini mushrooms, we had some dried porcini powder from another recipe. Used 1.5 tsp but would use at least 2 tsp next time ~ and then double that for the doubled soup base.
• Used a whole head of kale which is much more than 4 cups
• Chopped the mixed mushrooms ~ baby bella, white button and shiitake
• Didn't have carrots but had purple cabbage so added to the soup
• Added green onions to the soup at the end
• Mushrooms weren't crispy as they release so much water in the sheet pan
• Could serve with egg rolls!
• Per Half Baked Harvest's note on the recipe, she recommends storing the soup and noodles separately as the noodles will soak up the soup and become mushy.

Recipe: Herb and Chickpea Stew with Rice

Herb and Chickpea Stew with Rice
4.7 stars
HalfBakedHarvest.com

For a stew of this type (healthy!) this was pretty good. It definitely needed the Greek yogurt to make it creamy and to add another dimension. We served this with falafel on the side.

Ingredients: rice, chickpeas yellow onion, vegetable broth, spinach, cilantro, parsley, dill, chives, garlic, turmeric, red pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, Kosher salt, pepper

Serve with: Greek yogurt, mint

Tips/Notes:

• Didn't add lemon zest but needed to and will next time -- needs the brightness
• Used more baby spinach that it called for
• Used dried parsley
• Didn't add dill
• Didn't add mint for serving
• It was a little bland so added 1/4 tsp celery seed, 1/2 tsp dried basil and more red pepper

Recipe: Lentil Veloute with Cabbage and Toasted Brioche

Lentil Veloute with Cabbage and Toasted Brioche

Food & Wine Magazine, Oct 2019, p. 85

4.7 stars

(I couldn't find this recipe online so have not linked it here.)

I had set aside this recipe back from 2019, thinking we might make this super interesting recipe one day.... 

We had some cabbage left over from another dish so decided to give this a try. I was mostly intrigued because of the coffee whipped cream that tops this soup. 

This soup was delicious and something I'd expect to find at a high end restaurant. The recipe is from the restaurant Lauza in southern France.

In short, there is a lentil veloute where a cabbage and mushroom mix is added along with a topping of coffee whipped cream. A lot of components and levels of flavor and textures which I love.

Lentil Veloute Ingredients: green lentils, yellow onions, garlic, heavy cream, parsley springs, thyme springs, bay leaves, olive oil, unsalted butter, Kosher salt, black pepper, water

Cabbage and Mushrooms Ingredients: bacon, green cabbage, shiitake, unsalted butter, Kosher salt, black pepper

Coffee Whipped Cream Ingredients: heavy cream, brewed coffee, Kosher salt

Additional Ingredients: brioche slices, extra-virgin olive oil, microgreens for garnish (optional)

Tips:

• Cooked the lentils for 30 minutes instead of 45
• Next time, add 8 cups of water instead of 10 so it's less watery
• We wanted some lentil texture so only blended half of the lentils
• Topped with bacon instead of mixing in with the cabbage and mushrooms so the bacon stayed crispy
• The coffee whipped cream took quite a while to whip because of the coffee liquid
• Add salt to taste -- the 2.5 teaspoons is a lot

Recipe: Lentil Soup with Apple and Bacon

Lentil Soup with Apple and Bacon

Food and Wine Magazine, Nov 2016?, p. 85

4.8 stars

I didn't realize this was a Chef Vivian Howard recipe! If you're not familiar with her, she had a documentary series on PBS showing her opening a restaurant.

This was delicious, hearty and healthy. Lots of texture and flavor!!! It was the second time we've made it as I forgot to blog about this the first time.

Ingredients: bacon, green lentils, leek, celery, carrot, Granny Smith apple, chicken stock, apple cider, rosemary, garlic, ginger, cumin, canola oil, Kosher salt, pepper, buttermilk for serving

Tips/Notes:

• Used 2-3 carrots
• Used creme fraiche since we had that on hand (can't seem to find buttermilk without carrageenan very easily)
• Used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock
• Used the apples we had on hand

Recipe: Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Food & Wine Magazine, Sep 2022, p. 42

4.6 stars

Not a pretty dish which is why I didn't include a photo here, but delicious and relatively easy to make. We do prefer America's Test Kitchen's (ATK) Chicken & Dumplings Recipe (I realize I haven't written about it in this blog) as it has a bit more flavor, but this one was good for in a pinch and didn't take too long to cook. I'll need to take a look at the ATK one to see if we can merge their recipe with this super easy one to get the same flavor but in less time.

Ingredients: chicken thighs, yellow onion, carrots, celery, chicken stock base, all-purpose flour, self-rising flour, buttermilk, unsalted butter, thyme, Kosher salt, black pepper, water

Recipe: Potato Soup with Sage Butter and Rye Crumbs

Potato Soup with Sage Butter and Rye Crumbs

Food & Wine Magazine, Mar 2019, p. 95

4.8 stars

Easy soup recipe that is so flavorful and restaurant-worthy! 

Ingredients: rye bread slices, Yukon Gold potatoes, leek bulbs, fresh sage leaves, butter, white verjus, heavy cream (optional), sea salt, water

Tips:

• Toasted the rye bread twice in a toaster instead of in the oven
• Used white wine vinegar instead of white verjus (researched online and found that this is a good substitute)
• Made 1/4 of the sage butter and made it in a small mixing bowl instead of making the food processor oily. Honestly, I don't think the sage butter is truly needed! I think we could just blend the sage into the soup next time to cut the butter calories out.
• Did use the heavy cream -- blended it in (vs. stirring it in)