Cozy Winter Soups (Including My Family's Armenian Favorites)

These cozy winter soups are the ones I make over and over once the weather turns cold in Michigan. A few are classics like chicken stew and minestrone, and a few are the Armenian soups I grew up with, the ones that taste like my mom's and my grandmother's kitchens. All of them are budget friendly, easy to double and even better the next day.

The Soups That Warm Up Our Winters

These soups truly warm my heart. They remind me of every time I was home sick, and maybe a few times I pretended to be. My mom made me lemon egg soup all the time. My grandma made tutmaj, Armenian yogurt soup, every single week. Even though her version and ours use the same ingredients, hers always tasted slightly different and equally delicious.

And shish barak was a soup I thought was gone forever, until I finally got it just right.

Armenian and Middle Eastern Winter Soups

1

Lemon Egg Soup

My Armenian mom's bright, lemony egg soup. Silky, simple and so comforting on a cold night.

Check out this recipe

2

Armenian Yogurt Soup (Tutmaj Abour)

Tutmaj, a warm and tangy Armenian yogurt soup, the way my grandmother made it for Tuesday lunch.

Check out this recipe

3

Shish Barak

Shish barak, little meat dumplings simmered in a tangy yogurt soup, a recipe my Armenian family carried from Syria.

Check out this recipe

Classic Winter Soups and Stews

4

Super Simple Fall Minestrone Soup

A super simple fall minestrone loaded with vegetables. Budget friendly and freezer friendly.

Check out this recipe

5

Chicken Vegetable Stew with Puff Pastry Croutons

A hearty one pot chicken and vegetable stew with tender potatoes. A full dinner in a bowl.

Check out this recipe

Something Crunchy for the Top

6

Puff Pastry Croutons (Oven Baked)

Oven-baked puff pastry croutons that turn any bowl of soup into something special.

Check out this recipe

Tips for Making Winter Soups Ahead

• Make a double batch. Most soups taste even better the next day.
• Freeze in portions. Let soup cool, then freeze it in containers for easy lunches. Soups with pasta or dumplings are best frozen before adding them.
• Temper your eggs and yogurt. For lemon egg soup and yogurt soups, whisk in a little hot broth first so they stay silky and do not curdle.
• Add fresh herbs at the end. A handful of parsley or dried mint wakes up a pot of soup right before serving.

Winter Soups FAQ

What is the most comforting winter soup?
For me it is my mom's lemon egg soup. For a heartier dinner, chicken and vegetable stew is hard to beat.

What is a traditional Armenian soup?
Tutmaj (a yogurt soup), lemon egg soup and spas are some of the best-loved Armenian soups.

Can I freeze these soups?
Stews and minestrone freeze very well. Egg and yogurt soups are best made fresh, since they can separate when frozen and reheated.

How do I keep yogurt soup from curdling?
Stir a little hot broth into the yogurt before adding it to the pot, and keep the soup at a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil.

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