soup

After the leftovers from the holidays have cleared out of the fridge, you'll want something light yet comforting. This soup is a stracciatella with spinach, sans egg yolks—quick and easy!

This hearty one-dish-supper soup is in my regular fall-winter rotation, and has been a family favorite for quite a long time.

French Onion Soup is one of the first dishes I ever taught myself to make and is still one of my favorite winter comfort foods.

I developed this dish by experimenting with my favorite ingredients -- clams, sausage, wine and heavy cream.

Jook, a Chinese rice soup also known as congee, is one of the first foods I turn to when I feel my immune system could use a little boost. Simmered with fresh ginger, which adds flavor and curative properties, this jook can take on a range of textures, from very broth-y to quite thick; you can control the amount of water you add to get the consistency you like.. I like mine on the thicker side, like oatmeal, but kind of soupy.

Miso is a great source of vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants, and that's not to mention it has that great umami flavor that elevates just about anything it's paired with. The turmeric adds a sweet earthiness and its own anti-inflammatory and digestive properties.

A little Burgundy wine, a little Worcestershire sauce, and the usual hearty beef—plus lots of potatoes and chard—take this version of classic beef vegetable soup into a nice and different direction. Top with grated Parmesan cheese to serve.

I often find amazing mushrooms, both wild and cultivated, at our local farmers market. I've made this soup with cremini, shitake, button, hen of the woods, oyster, chanterelle, and many other local wild types. This soup is velvety and satisfying. —

The addition of honeydew and pappadew peppers (but not Mountain Dew, thank you very much) to a basic gazpacho recipe—adapted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook—provides a lovely layer of sweetness and piquancy. -

This is how my grandmother always made tomato soup. It's extremely simple, and relies entirely on extremely red, ripe tomatoes - I only make it if I happen to see tomatoes that look particularly ripe and fresh for sale, not the other way around. It's also very important to use a heavy cast iron pan that is well seasoned, and to get the butter as hot as you can without burning it.