Soups

Sustaining, nutritious, quick, easy and cheap to make, it's no surprise that soups are so popular. You'll find every type of pottage on the site, from classic watercress and gazpacho to roasted tomato and chilled versions too.

The Delia Online Cookery School: Find out why Delia launched her online cookery school in the video on this page, and browse all the recipes.

A Summer Soup of Lettuce, Cucumber and Peas

An excess of home-grown cucumbers and what to do with them forth a delightful fresh, green summer soup, whi...

An excess of home-grown cucumbers and what to do with them forth a delightful fresh, green summer soup, which we enjoy served hot during a chillier snap, but it's equa...

Vegetarian

Chilled Almond Soup

My friend Neville, who has a house in Andalusia surrounded by almond trees, gave me this supremely wonderfu...

My friend Neville, who has a house in Andalusia surrounded by almond trees, gave me this supremely wonderful recipe for Chilled Almond Soup, generously laced with garl...

Vegetarian

a picture of fresh asparagus in a wire container sitting on a marble surface

Asparagus Soup

This elegant soup is perfect to make when asparagus comes into season in spring. It can be served hot or ve...

This elegant soup is perfect to make when asparagus comes into season in spring. It can be served hot or very well chilled. The Delia Online Cookery School: Watch h...

20 minutes - 25 minutes

Beef Stock

Butchers will chop up and sell you marrowbones for just a few pence, or they can sometimes be bought pre-pa...

Butchers will chop up and sell you marrowbones for just a few pence, or they can sometimes be bought pre-packed in supermarkets. For a light beef stock use the same...

4 hours

Bloody Mary Soup

More of a Virgin Mary really, but there's nothing to stop you adding a shot of vodka if you have the mind t...

More of a Virgin Mary really, but there's nothing to stop you adding a shot of vodka if you have the mind to. Honestly, though, it won't need it because it has a lo...

A bowl of thick butterbean soup with a fork resting on the side

Butter Bean, Bacon and Parsley Soup

Butter beans, boiled on their own (as I remember them at school) tend to be dull, but they make a good, thi...

Butter beans, boiled on their own (as I remember them at school) tend to be dull, but they make a good, thick, creamy soup and have the great virtue of being able to a...

20 minutes - 30 minutes

a white bowl of soup with a spoon full of soup being lifted out

Carrot and Artichoke Soup

I love serving this, one of my most favourite soups. First, it has an extremely rich, beautiful colour, ...

I love serving this, one of my most favourite soups. First, it has an extremely rich, beautiful colour, almost saffron I would say. And second, people can never qui...

35 minutes

Vegetarian

a saucepan filled with soup sitting on a white tablecloth with a wooden spoon resting on the pan

Carrot and Coriander Soup

This is a lovely soup to make with spring carrots that are not quite as sweet as those in the summer. Co...

This is a lovely soup to make with spring carrots that are not quite as sweet as those in the summer. Coriander is said to have the flavour of roasted orange peel, ...

25 minutes - 30 minutes

Carrot and Tarragon Soup

This is a delicious, summery soup, but it can be made in the winter with two finely chopped leeks instead o...

This is a delicious, summery soup, but it can be made in the winter with two finely chopped leeks instead of the lettuce leaves. Don't be tempted to use stock, as t...

25 minutes

Vegetarian

Cauliflower Cheese and Broccoli Soup

A lovely fresh-tasting soup this. You can choose the cheese here – basically whatever you have: Roquefor...

A lovely fresh-tasting soup this. You can choose the cheese here – basically whatever you have: Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Cheddar – but this one’s made with Parmesan s...

35 minutes

Cauliflower Soup

As cauliflowers are available all the year round and prices tend to fluctuate enormously, this soup is only...

As cauliflowers are available all the year round and prices tend to fluctuate enormously, this soup is only really economical when the price is right. The Delia Onl...

10 minutes

Vegetarian

Cauliflower Soup with Roquefort

This is a truly sublime soup, as the cauliflower and Roquefort seem to melt together so well, but I have al...

This is a truly sublime soup, as the cauliflower and Roquefort seem to melt together so well, but I have also tried it with mature Cheddar, and I'm sure it would be go...

40 minutes

Vegetarian

Celeriac and Chestnut Soup with Celeriac Crisps

Celeriac comes in difficult sizes for a recipe for four people, so I have used two small ones, which will m...

Celeriac comes in difficult sizes for a recipe for four people, so I have used two small ones, which will make enough for everyone to have seconds. Feel free to mak...

25 minutes - 30 minutes

Vegetarian

Celery Soup with Cashel Blue Cheese

English Fenland growers have developed new varieties of celery that can be grown in summer, and also overco...

English Fenland growers have developed new varieties of celery that can be grown in summer, and also overcome the severities of a British winter by growing English var...

40 minutes

A picture of a white bowl on a folded napkin containg chestnut soup with croutons and bacon on the top and a little sprig of thyme next to it

Chestnut Soup with Bacon and Croutons

A bone from a baked ham makes a good stock for this one – but if you use vegetable stock, it is still an ex...

A bone from a baked ham makes a good stock for this one – but if you use vegetable stock, it is still an excellent soup. You can buy the chestnuts ready peeled and ...

45 minutes

Chicken Giblet Stock

Fresh stocks are now available in tubs from supermarkets, but if you need a large quantity these can be exp...

Fresh stocks are now available in tubs from supermarkets, but if you need a large quantity these can be expensive. Here's how to make chicken stock, which can be us...

1 hour

Chickpea, Chilli and Coriander Soup

This has decidedly Mexican overtones. It isn't too hot and spicy but the presence of the chilli does give i...

This has decidedly Mexican overtones. It isn't too hot and spicy but the presence of the chilli does give it a nice kick, and the flavour and texture of chickpeas is p...

Vegetarian

Chilled Fennel Gazpacho

I've always loved gazpacho and never fail to order it when I'm in Spain or Portugal: it really is one of th...

I've always loved gazpacho and never fail to order it when I'm in Spain or Portugal: it really is one of the nicest first courses when the weather is warm. This ver...

Vegetarian

Chilled Spanish Gazpacho

This is a truly beautiful soup for serving ice-cold during the summer and it's particularly refreshing if w...

This is a truly beautiful soup for serving ice-cold during the summer and it's particularly refreshing if we're lucky enough to have hot weather. However, please do...

Vegetarian

Chilled Yoghurt and Cucumber Soup

This cool, light and subtle soup is incredibly easy and quick to make. However it does need some fresh s...

This cool, light and subtle soup is incredibly easy and quick to make. However it does need some fresh summer cucumbers in season for the best flavour of all. Th...

Vegetarian

Cream of Celery Soup

Originally, the older varieties of so-called 'dirty' celery from the flat, black-earthed Fenlands of East A...

Originally, the older varieties of so-called 'dirty' celery from the flat, black-earthed Fenlands of East Anglia had a short season - from October to January. If yo...

Creamy Mushroom Soup

This is a light and delicate soup that is best made with the dark, flat open-gilled mushrooms – which have ...

This is a light and delicate soup that is best made with the dark, flat open-gilled mushrooms – which have more flavour to them than the closed button variety. The ...

20 minutes

Croutons

Crisp, golden croutons are lovely sprinkled over the top of a bowl of hot or chilled soup. You can make ...

Crisp, golden croutons are lovely sprinkled over the top of a bowl of hot or chilled soup. You can make croutons a day ahead, and store them in an airtight containe...

10 minutes

A bowl of parsnip soup in a white mug, with parsnip crisps on the top, sittin on a wooden tray with a roll of white bread next to it

Curried Parsnip and Apple Soup

This is such a lovely soup. The sweetness of the parsnips is sharpened by the presence of the apple, and...

This is such a lovely soup. The sweetness of the parsnips is sharpened by the presence of the apple, and the subtle flavour of the spices comes through beautifully....

Vegetarian