It's soup season! As the weather gets colder and colder and cold and flu season kicks into gear, lots of people are looking to nourish their bodies with nutritious, hearty, warm sopitas, and we totally get it. But there are only so many pots of the standard chicken soup or minestrone you can clear before your tastebuds get a little bored. What you put into your soup is only limited by your imagination, and if that's not really your thing there are lots of recipes for both traditional soups and more modern takes right at your fingertips.
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Soups and stews are easily altered with the addition of new, more flavorful spices and vegetables, and there's tons of inspiration to be drawn from the rich flavors of Latin American cuisine. Plus, most of us grew up with big pots of a variety of soups and stews from sancocho and sopa de fideo to menudo and pozole on our tables any time someone was sick or the temperature dropped, so we can always turn to those old-school dishes.
Latin soups are basically soul food, so it's no surprise that many of our traditional spices and ingredients can also be used to add some variety to American standards. Click through our gallery to find 30 ideas for soups that are sure to warm your body and your soul on a chilly day–from classics to more inventive versions of old favorites.
This simple, rich Colombian sopa is so hearty.
Loaded with chicken, potatoes and corn, you will not leave the table hungry after eating a bowl of ajiaco.
Get the full recipe from Fork in the Road.
Soup with mini meatballs is sure to be a family favorite.
As a kid, I loved when my mom served me a can of Italian wedding soup with those tiny meatballs in it for lunch. This homemade Latin version is even better.
Find the full recipe on MamásLatinas.
Traditional cod fish stew is so warming.
Traditional Puerto Rican bacalao stew features a rich combination of Spanish and Caribbean flavors, and is made even quicker by swapping traditional dried cod fish out for the fresh version.
Get the full recipe from MamásLatinas.
Try this Mexican beef stew.
Mexican birria or beef stew is rich with spicy, earthy flavor from a variety of chiles including ancho and guajillo.
Get the full recipe from Spices Inc.
Upgrade your tomato soup.
My family goes crazy for tomato soup and grilled cheese, and though I'm not above using a canned or boxed soup, homemade is really easy. You can totally elevate it by using charred tomatoes and ancho chile powder.
Get the full recipe from The Latin Kitchen.
Butternut squash soup is a must during the colder months.
Classic butternut squash soup is perfect as is, but it's also easily jazzed up with Latin flavors. Cumin, cayenne, coconut milk and fresh lime take it to another level.
Get the full recipe from The Macrochef.
Colombian caldo de costillas is known to cure a hangover.
Caldo de costillas is typically eaten at breakfast in Colombia and is anecdotally known as a hangover cure, but it's delicious and comforting any time of day.
Get the full recipe from My Colombian Recipes.
Or try this Colombian chicken soup if beef isn't your thing.
Colombian cazuela de pollo y coco is an ultra-flavorful take on cream of chicken soup.
Get the full recipe My Colombian Recipes.
Spice up beef stew with some chipotle.
Chipotle beef stew is chock full of beans and veggies. Served over rice, it'll really stick to your ribs.
Get the full recipe from MamásLatinas.
Vegetarian tortilla soup is delicious.
Tortilla soup is just as tasty sans pollo. Roasting the corn kernels and adding hefty doses of fresh lime juice, cumin and other spices adds tons of flavor.
Get the full recipe from One Green Planet.
This cauliflower soup is a fusion of flavors.
Swapping cream of potato soup for cream of cauliflower soup will save you tons of calories, but this version that features a combination of Latin and Mediterranean seasonings doesn't lack for taste.
Get the full recipe from The Mediterranean Dish.
You can't go wrong with sopa de fideos.
Every Latino childhood involves memories of sipping a bowl of sopa de fideos on a sick day. This classic will aways stand the test of time.
Get the full recipe from MamásLatinas.
This garlic and bread soup is to die for.
This super-simple is fully of garlicky flavor and the broth is fortified with eggs to keep you full and give it a luxurious texture.
Get the recipe from iCuban.
Green corn soup is a nice twist on corn chowder.
Mexican green corn soup is all about the toppings. Cilantro, jalapeno, scallions, avocado and fresh lime juice all make an appearance.
Get the full recipe from MamásLatinas.
Pozole is an excellent go-to soup.
Garlicky, peppery pozole verde is a classic soup for a reason–it is tasty, warming and totally filling.
Get the full recipe from MamásLatinas.
Lentil soup is cheap and filling.
Lentil soup is one of the most affordable and filling sopas you can make. Try adding chorizo for a bit of spice and added flavor.
Get the full recipe from Mexico in My Kitchen.
Go old-school with a pot of menudo.
Classic white menudo soup from Mexico is made with very few ingredients, but it's ultra filling and soothing.
Get the full recipe from Mexico in My Kitchen.
Add Mexican flavors to your chicken soup.
Mexican chicken soup is made quick and easy with the use of store-bought chicken stock and canned beans, so you can have a hot meal on the table in no time.
Get the full recipe from Weary Chef.
This Colombian cheese soup looks so good.
Colombian mote de queso or cheese soup is a savory and totally filling vegetarian option, and it only requires a handful of ingredients.
Get the full recipe from Guia Todo.
This smoky navy bean soup is perfect for winter.
This navy bean soup features ham, tomatoes and spinach, making it an ultra-nutritous soup option.
Get the full recipe from MamásLatinas.
Oxtail stew will keep your belly full.
Oxtail stew is common in a lot of Latin American countries because it is flavorful and hearty. This Mexican version features ancho and guajillo peppers and the earthy flavor of bay leaves.
Get the full recipe from Hispanic Kitchen.
This take on pea soup will surprise you.
This pea soup is thickened with aguacate and to simplify the traditional process of simmering dried peas with a ham bone, it uses frozen peas and omits the meat altogether so it's also vegetarian.
Get the full recipe from Hispanic Kitchen.
Pork and pigeon pea stew can be made with leftovers.
I'm always looking for ways to use up leftovers and avoid waste, and this savory and hearty roast pork and pigeon pea stew totally fits the bill.
Get the full recipe from Dominican Cooking.
Top this pinto bean stew with corn and jalapeño dumplings for a true winner.
This pinto bean stew is made in the slow cooker and bulked up with savory corn and jalapeño dumplings for a delicious and filling meal.
Find the full recipe on MamásLatinas.
You won't believe how easy this creamy poblano soup is to make.
This warm, creamy roasted poblano pepper soup is so easy you can make up a pot any night of the week.
Get the recipe from MamásLatinas.
Give red pozole a try also.
Pozole rojo is just as much of a classic if not more as pozole verde. It's very similar, but typically uses pork instead of chicken.
Find the full recipe at MamásLatinas.
Your family is sure to go crazy for this sweet and savory plantain soup.
This innovative ripe plantain soup recipe looks so incredible and insanely easy too. I'm sure my family and yours will love it.
Get the full recipe from Dominican Cooking.
You can't beat a big bowl of sancocho.
The flavors and textures of traditional Puerto Rican sancocho–brimming with meat and root vegetables–bring me straight back to childhood. It's one of my favorite meals and I'm sure it will be one of yours as well.
Get the full recipe from Rican Recipes.
Seafood stew offers a nice change.
Seafood-based soups and stews are really common in Latin America and the Caribbean and there are a million ways to make them, but it usually involves a tomato broth and any variety of seafood.
Get the full recipe from Taste.
Give this spicy pumpkin soup a try.
Pumpkin pairs perfectly with Latin flavors including jalapeño, cumin and oregano in this Southwestern-inspired soup.
Get the full recipe from A Spicy Perspective.
