7 Hot Soups to Keep You Warm during the #Snowpocalypse

Hot Soup Keeps You Warm When It’s Snowing

With the impending threat of the #Snowpocalypse (spelled #Sneauxpocalypse down here) arriving in New Orleans, I can’t help but dream of ways to stay warm. And a bowl of piping hot soup can keep both the hands and the tummy warm.

The Versatility of Soup

There is so much that you can do when making a soup! It’s really possible to turn just about anything into a soup. The sky’s the limit!

I want to share with you a few of my favorite soups I think you will enjoy. Whether you like Middle Eastern cuisine, Cajun or Creole, Asian, or plain ole American, there’s something here for you.

1. Lebanese Spinach and Lentil Soup

Lebanese Spinach and Lentil Soup is perfect for this time of the year. We all know that spinach is good for you, but lentils – even though are very small beans – really pack a punch in the healthy department. Lentils are also super-easy to prepare. No need to pre-soak them like most other beans. From start to finish, lentils can be ready to eat in about 30 minutes. This soup gives new meaning to the term “fast food.”

2. Lebanese Lentils and Rice Soup

Here’s another simple recipe that is quick and easy, yet full on flavor: Lebanese Lentils and Rice Soup. With only a handful of simple ingredients, this is a meal that can be prepared in under an hour. Of course, it can also be served as an appetizer.

3. Louisiana Caldo

This one is unique, and includes less-than-common ingredients like pickled pork and mustard greens, but you can certainly use other kinds of greens. Louisiana Caldo is a good soup for cold weather since greens are hearty and abundant even in the winter (at least down here in the south). Using bone-in pickled pork necessitates and extra step (removing the bones before serving), but it adds a depth of flavor you can get any other way.

4. Shrimp and Okra Gumbo

Seafood is plentiful year-round in south Louisiana, and shrimp are always at the top of my list. I love Seafood Gumbo, but it is so expensive to make. I find this Shrimp and Okra Gumbo to be more affordable and just as delicious. It does not disappoint. The okra helps to thicken the gumbo, and it adds a delightful flavor that complements the shrimp… especially since I cook the okra down in bacon grease first. 😉

5. Curry Chicken and Coconut Soup

My family loves Asian cuisine. Whether it’s Chinese fried rice and egg rolls, Japanese sushi, Vietnamese Pho or Thai spring rolls and spicy soups, we are happy fans. We also enjoy many different kinds of curry dishes. This recipe flows out of our love for hot and spicy Asian soups. Curry Chicken and Coconut Soup is probably the most heart-warming soup on this list. At least for us.

6. Beef Stew with Abita Turbodog Beer

This is comfort food as it’s best. Beef and beer? What’s not to love? Abita Turbodog is dark ale that highlights the beef and draws out its flavor. A classic Beef Stew that contains carrots and potatoes, this Beef Stew is hearty, warm, comforting, filling, and delicious! It’s comfort food for sure.