Make these Plant-Based Soups for Cold winter nights from herbs and vegetables you grow in your garden.
You can grow fresh produce even in the colder months to create delicious, plant-based soups. Whether working with a backyard garden, balcony, or indoor space, these recipes highlight ingredients you can grow during winter to enjoy from garden to table.
Cozy Plant-Based Soups Perfect for Cold Winter Nights
1. Creamy Carrot and Ginger Soup
Ingredients: Carrots, ginger, parsley
This creamy soup mixes the sweet taste of carrots with the warm spice of ginger, making it perfect for winter. Carrots can handle frost and grow well in garden beds or deep pots. Ginger grows best indoors in containers, and parsley can thrive in gardens or pots. You can find the recipe here.
2. Butternut Squash and Herb Soup
Ingredients: Butternut squash, thyme, sage
If you love earthy flavors and want a healthy option to keep you warm in the cold, try this plant soup. Grow butternut squash in the summer and store it for winter.
Complement it with fresh thyme and sage from your herb garden. Both are easy to grow indoors or in sheltered garden spaces during winter.
3. Kale and White Bean Soup
Ingredients: Kale, garlic, onions
Kale is a superstar of winter gardening; it thrives even in freezing temperatures. On the other hand, garlic and onions can be planted in the fall for a winter harvest, making this soup a sustainable choice for the colder months. Here’s the recipe.
4. Spiced Lentil and Spinach Soup
Ingredients: Spinach, cilantro, lemon
Spinach grows exceptionally well in winter, either in outdoor beds with frost protection or indoors in containers. Fresh cilantro can be planted in small pots near a sunny window.
Lemons are readily available at grocery stores, or if you have a dwarf lemon tree in your home, it might provide citrus fruits even in cold weather, especially if you live in a moderate climate. Once you have these ready, get cooking with this recipe.
5. Tomato-Basil Soup
Ingredients: Tomatoes, basil
Tomatoes may not grow outdoors in winter, but you can preserve your summer harvest by drying, freezing, or canning them.
There’s also the option of growing them indoors. Basil can also be grown indoors, but you’ll need a sunny window or grow lights. Just follow this recipe for a perfect homemade soup!
Tips for Winter Gardening
- Use Cold Frames and Greenhouses: These structures provide protection for frost-sensitive plants and extend the growing season.
- Focus on Hardy Vegetables: Kale, carrots, and spinach are ideal for winter planting and thrive in cooler temperatures.
- Indoor Gardening Opportunities: Herbs like basil, thyme, and cilantro are perfect for small spaces and add freshness to winter soups. You can learn more about indoor herbs you can grow in winter!
What are you waiting for? Set up your winter garden, grab your pots, and let your love for gardening shine through in every bowl!
