Soups and Stews

A light soup can begin a meal, but a heftier one can become the mainstay, warming when it’s cold, cooling when it’s hot, and always nourishing. A little time is needed for the flavors to develop—once made, soups keep, and the flavors generally improve with time. Most of these recipes make about 6 cups of soup, enough to serve a family or sustain one or two people for a couple of meals. Soups are among the most flexible and easiest foods to multiply; they also freeze fairly well, so extra amounts can be put away for future meals.