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Christmas is literally knocking at the door, and if there’s one thing that most people’s Christmas shopping list includes it’s that brand new recipe book (there’s a budding chef in every family).
The Internet is great for recipes (heck, it’s why I do what I do), but it’s a pale substitute for owning a glossy, bright, and beautiful recipe book with real pages that you can flick through and refer to while you’re cooking in the kitchen.
If you hadn’t guessed yet, I’ve got quite the recipe book collection going on in my kitchen!
If your Christmas stocking includes a blender or food processer, then a soup recipe book is an absolute must!
Here are eight of my favourite soup recipe books (in no particular order) that you can pick up to fill up that stocking!
1 – The Soup Bible
This tome by Debra Mayhew boasts more than 200 soup recipes, and includes something for everyone with soup recipes from all around the world.
Not only does Debra provide the recipes, but begins by giving step by step instructions on making the various stocks from scratch that form the base of her soups (and believe me, you’ve never tried soup until you’ve tried one made from fresh stock that you’ve cooked up yourself).
The Soup Bible isn’t just comprehensive, it’s also beautifully illustrated with multiple photographs per recipe; as one happy 5 star customer put it “the photography is absolutely superb – a joy to see”. I wish I could say that about all my cooking books!
2 – Just Soup: Everything You Need In A Bowl
Henrietta Clancy realises that not everyone has the time to create their own stock from scratch, so her book is split up into sections aimed at different people; from quick soups to raw soups and slow soups there is something for everyone here.
The book begins with some essential soup making tips, all of which are a must learn for any budding soup maker. We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve cooked up something that is just too watery and runny, and Henrietta has the perfect advice for thickening your creation when this happens!
3 – The Soup Book
I love the cover of this one. That deep red really reminds of one thing; soup!
The Soup Book might be the one to go for if you’re into more traditional soup tastes. As one happy customer put it, what you’re getting here are “jolly good tasty every day soups”.
You might not get much of a taste of the exotic with this book, but what you do get are a tonne of practical, easy to make, and nourishing soup recipes.
Enjoy!
4 – Soup for Every Day: 365 of Our Favourite Recipes
If I asked you who the Covent Garden Food Company were, you’d probably be hard pressed to answer.
Now, look at their logo emblazoned on the cover of their Soup for Every Day book and answer the question again.
Covent Garden Food Company’s soup is ubiquitous; it’s the stuff you buy from the supermarket in a carton (rather than the canned stuff – yuk).
In this book, you’ll discover the actual recipes that the company uses to bring fresh soup to masses!
Everything from their famous Pea and Ham, to the more seasonal soups they make such as Scotch Broth.
There’s a recipe here for every single day of the year, 365 in total. Now that’s good value and an admirable challenge; cook yourself up a tasty soup every single day!
5 – Great British Soups: 120 tempting recipes from Britain’s Master Soup Makers
This one is for those of you who have no interest in spices, and couldn’t care less what soup they’re drinking down in Morocco or Mexico. This book is chock full to the brim of good old fashioned British soup recipes.
As the book says, “these are soups bursting with inspiration and flavour that make you proud to be British”.
Well, old fruit – I say tally-ho, toodle-pip and down with the Nazis!
6 – A Little Book Of Soups: 50 Favourite Recipes
The Little Book of Soups is the quintessential stocking filler. This short little read is a good book for the beginner soup maker.
It’s got 50 basic and easy to make recipes to offer, and it’s made by the Covent Garden Food Company; if anyone knows soup, it’s them!
7 – Superfood Soups: 100 Delicious, Energising and Nutrient-Dense Recipes
There’s a fair bit of scientific evidence to suggest that soup is rather good for you; retaining more nutrients after cooking than other types of food (and something to do with the way the body digests soups means you benefit from those nutrients more too).
This book is the one you need if you’re health conscious.
Every single one of these recipes are packed with nutrients from so-called “superfoods” and plant-based whole foods.
The author, Julie Morris, is an expert in the use of scientifically-lauded superfoods, and she’ll guide you every step of the way from simple pumpkin soup, all the way to watermelon and goji gazpacho!
8 – The Delia Collection: Soup
Delia Smith recipe books are fantastic for beginners. Delia has decades of experience, and this really shines through in the tips and best practices that she’ll guide you through while cooking.
With this Delia Smith book, you’re not just getting a collection of delicious soup recipes. You’re also getting an education in the fundamentals of soup making, and learning some tips and tricks that you’ll use through your soup cooking career!