Show Article Summary
Show Full Article
Winter is here! When it comes to cold weather, nothing to beat homemade Indian winter soup recipes.
Agree?
With winter comes the season of cold and flu, sore throats and sinus congestion.
We tend to drink less water in winter and so are dehydrated most times
What do you think is the one cure for all those symptoms ? The ‘one size fits all’ if you must?
SOUP, of course!
Want to know why soups are so popular in winter season?
Table of Contents
Why are soup recipes popular in winter?
In winter season, soup is the most sought after food on the menu, be it as a starter or as the meal itself.
Have you wondered why?
Soup is often the go-to -food because,
- It is nourishing
- Easy to prepare
- Helps keep you hydrated
- Is restorative
- Easy to digest
- It is economical, since leftovers can be used smartly to recreate soup recipes
- Light in consistency and color
How is soup good for health?
Winter season is when sore throats, nasal congestions, sinus pressure causing pain are all too common.
Any guesses why soup is a winter food?
We have often heard people say, a bowl of hot and healthy homemade soup will cure everything.
How so, you may ask.
Well, the sodium content in the soup recipe, helps relieve pain caused due to sore throat.Think about how often we are asked to gargle with salt water during a sore throat infection, it’s for the same reason.
The heat delivered by the spices in the soup help clear nasal congestion and can relieve pain and sinus pressure.
What are some tasty soups I can make at home?
Here is our list of healthy homemade winter soup recipes for you to try in your kitchen and share it with friends and family this season.
If you enjoy Indian flavors and spicy soups in winter, this blogpost is just the right one for you.
Vegetarian Winter Soups
Clear Vegetarian soups/Rasam
Rasam /Saaru / Chaaru is a thin watery soup of South Indian origin. One traditionally prepares rasam by using tamarind extract/juice as a base, with an addition of tomatoes, chili peppers and spices like cumin and coriander seeds as seasoning.
This soup like dish can be spicy, at times mildly sweet, flavorful and tangy. Simmering it with spices makes rasam a comforting and humble soup that provides a lot of medicinal value. A perfect answer for getting rid of sore throats and cold during winter season.It is part of the South Indian meal in every menu, as it aids in easy digestion of food.
Below is a list of our clear vegetarian soups/rasam :
- Rasam/Clear Vegetarian Soup
- Watermelon Rasam
- Tomato Rasam
- Radish leaves Rasam
- Cranberry Rasam
- Garlic Rasam
- Lemon Rasam
Creamy Vegetarian Soups
Creamy rich soups are made by the addition of milk, yogurt, coconut milk, cheese, half-and-half, pureed vegetables, flour or corn starch or simmering with rice. Creamy soups are perfect for winters.
If adding cream/milk, add the cream during the last 10-15 minutes of the cooking process.
Winter soups with Chicken
The chicken in your soup offers a number of benefits. It’s high in protein that helps the immune system, and is also a good source of tryptophan. Tryptophan, helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of ‘comfort’ that helps make chicken noodle soup a true comfort food during winter season.
One can have a hearty bowl of chicken soup with rice or noodles. Not only do the carbohydrates in these make you feel full and satisfied, they also make one feel less sluggish.
Adding spices and salt enhances the taste and flavor to the chicken soup.While the spices help to combat the feeling of dull taste buds, the salt is great for getting you to eat more.Both are important to stay nourished, healthy and hydrated especially in winter season, when one tends to catch the flu or cold easily.
Below is our list of Chicken soups with Indian flavors:
- Chicken Soup for the soul
- Nilgiri Chicken Kurma/Nilgiri Chicken Soup
- Spicy Chicken Soup
- Mint n’Chicken Soup
Winter soups with mutton
Mutton is meat from a sheep that is older than 1 year, ideally 3 years old. It is an intense red color and contains a considerable amount of fat.
In the US, because Americans prefer the delicate taste of lamb ( meat from sheep that is younger than 1 year), this is easily available in the markets and more expensive.
Indian cooking is all about bringing out the flavors with the spices. We tend to use Mutton in our dishes, as the flavors are very strong.
Because mutton is tougher, and has a strong flavor, a slow-cooking method (like the one used in preparing stews or soups) helps to tenderize the meat and bring out the flavor.
Hence mutton soups are our go-to winter soups.
18 Best Homemade Healthy Winter Soup Recipes
18 Best Homemade Indian Winter Soup Recipes Click To TweetThe Bottom Line
What do you think? How did you like our blogpost with our homemade Indian winter soup recipes collection?
Do you have any recipes of soups with Indian flavors, that we did not cover here in our blog post?
Share with us your homemade healthy winter soup recipes, in the comments section below, we’d love to hear from you!
Ready in 15 minutes
Check out more of our recipes below
- When it comes to cold weather, nothing to beat homemade Indian winter soup recipes.
- With winter comes the season of cold and flu, sore throats and sinus congestion.
- We tend to drink less water in winter and so are dehydrated most times What do you think is the one cure for all those symptoms ?
- Well, the sodium content in the soup recipe, helps relieve pain caused due to sore throat.
- If you enjoy Indian flavors and spicy soups in winter, this blogpost is just the right one for you.
- Because mutton is tougher, and has a strong flavor, a slow-cooking method (like the one used in preparing stews or soups) helps to tenderize the meat and bring out the flavor.
Learn how to make soup like a pro
Learn to make homemade soups that are quick, easy, delicious and filling!Be it thin watery or rich creamy ones, they are packed with nutrients.
What great recipes!
Thank you!
I just love different soup recipes! There is something so comforting about soup on a really miserable weather day!
Totally agree! Thank you 🙂
We are always looking for new soups to try in the winter!
Now you have a wide choice to pick from. Enjoy!
I have never been a big fan of soup, but this has been changing in the last few years. I tend to enjoy the creamy soups more.
If that is the case, you are going to love our creamy carrot soup and chicken soup recipes. Give it a try & share your feedback. Thank you!
I love soup so much! It’s a favorite during the winter. I’ll check out the vegetarian soups.
That’s so good to know. Please give our recipes a try & share with us your feedback, would love to hear how they turned out for you.
Oh wow! 18?! Cool! Thank you for sharing 🥰
You are most welcome.What better season than winter to try some warming soup recipes, right? Enjoy! 🙂
Some wonderful warming and grounding soup options!
Thank you, so appreciate your kind words.Do give them a try!
I love homemade soups!
Each one of them are tried and tested homemade recipes by yours truly.So I know they taste delicious.Do give them a try & share your feedback with us, would love to hear how you enjoyed it.
Great ideas! Going to stay making more soups as I live in cold Switzerland.
Thank you.Wonderful to hear from Switzerland!Yes, our soups are perfect for cold weather.They are warming, filling and nutritious.Do give them a try & let us know which ones you enjoyed the most. Always good to hear from our readers, it helps us while creating content for the future.
One of my first roommates out of college grew up in India with missionary parents. She cooked Indian almost exclusively and I’ve not had such good variety since then. I now have a daughter who LOVES to experiment in the kitchen and she is getting this entire post. It’s time for some good Indian food again! Thanks!
Loved reading your story about your roommate and your first encounter with Indian food. Once you get a taste of the authentic Indian dishes, one is forever smitten, coz’ the flavors are so delicious.I am so glad to know that you are sharing our recipes with your daughter, how kind of you to do that.Thank you. Please do share with her our link here, to subscribe to our blog so she can get our weekly updates & newsletters on new recipes and hacks, if she enjoys cooking & experimenting with new recipes. Here is our link to subscribe to our blog : https://mayashetty1008.activehosted.com/f/3
My husband has recently started making homemade soups. I’m excited to pass this list on to him!
Thank you, that’s awesome. Please feel free to & do share with us your feedback on how you enjoyed the soup he made for you, following our recipe. We would love to hear, as each one of them are tried and tested by yours truly 😉 🙂
Yum!! I would be down to try any of these Indians soups. I’m a big fan of all the spices.
Lovely! You are in the right place then 🙂 Do give our recipes a try, they are delicious and if you enjoy spices all the better, coz our soups are loaded with essential and aromatic spices.So appreciate your kind words. Enjoy!