As the weather cools, there’s nothing better than filling, warming soups loaded with a variety of gorgeous fall vegetables. The foundation of onion and carrots is enhanced with chunks of squash, potatoes and strips of hearty greens in a broth infused with herbs and spices. Here are a few easy, to make soup recipes, using seasonal ingredients for you to try. What is your favorite fall soup?

Autumn Chowder

Serves: 4

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 3 ears corn
• 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups peeled and diced sweet potato
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

In a large pot on medium, heat oil. Add celery, onion and bell pepper and sauté until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir until coated and thickened, about 45 seconds.

Cut corn kernels off the cobs, reserving cobs. Add corn cobs, broth, milk, coriander and thyme to the pot. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cobs.

Add corn kernels and sweet potato. Continue to cook until sweet potato is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in half-and-half, salt and pepper and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Hearty Greens and Pasta Soup

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic , chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 plum tomatoes, cored and chopped
• 2 carrots , chopped
• 1 bunch Swiss chard (about 3/4 pound) , roughly chopped
• 1/2 bunch escarole (about 1/2 pound) , stemmed and roughly chopped
• 1/2 pound dried bow tie (farfalle) pasta
• 1 (3-inch) Parmigiano-Reggiano rind , plus grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for garnish
• 1/4 pound baby spinach

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, bay leaf, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until most of the liquid is released and absorbed, about 5 minutes more. Add carrots and 8 cups water and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

Stir in chard, escarole, pasta and Parmigiano-Reggiano rind. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until broth is flavorful and greens and pasta are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in spinach and season with salt and pepper.

Remove and discard bay leaf and cheese rind from soup then ladle into bowls, garnish with grated cheese and serve.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

6 servings

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 cup chopped leeks
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups peeled and cubed pumpkin 
• 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 3 tablespoons pumpkin seeds or pine nuts, toasted

Directions

Lightly coat an unheated large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray. Add olive oil; heat over medium-high heat. Add leeks and garlic; cook and stir until leeks start to brown, stirring occasionally.

Stir in pumpkin, broth, pepper and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes or until pumpkin is tender. Remove from heat; cool slightly.

Transfer half of the pumpkin mixture to a blender or food processor; cover and blend or process until smooth. Repeat with the remaining half of the pumpkin mixture. (Or use an immersion blender directly in the saucepan.) Return all of the pureed mixture to saucepan.

Stir in the milk, water and honey; heat through, but do not boil. Serve warm garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds or pine nuts.

Brown Rice Chicken Soup

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion , chopped
• 3 medium carrots , chopped
• 2 stalks celery , chopped
• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup long-grain brown rice
• 1 whole boneless chicken breast , cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 bunch of your favorite greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collards) thick stems removed and leaves thinly sliced
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat oil and add onion, carrots and celery and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is translucent, stirring occasionally.

Add broth, water, rice, chicken and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook about 45-50 minutes or until rice is tender.

Remove bay leaf and stir in greens and continue cooking until wilted and tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add parsley, salt and pepper.

Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup

6 servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups peeled, diced butternut squash
• 2 cups thinly sliced carrots (about 4 )
• 1 cup thinly sliced leek or chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Two 14 1/2 ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup half-and-half or light cream
• Sour cream

Directions

In a large covered saucepan cook squash, carrots, and leek in hot butter over medium heat about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth and thyme. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 25 to 35 minutes or until vegetables are very tender. Cool slightly.

Place one-third of the squash mixture in a food processor or blender. Cover and process or blend until almost smooth. Repeat with remaining squash mixture. Return all of the mixture to saucepan. Or use an immersion hand blender.

Add white pepper and nutmeg; bring just to boiling. Add half-and-half; heat through. If desired, garnish each serving with sour cream.

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Posted by Jovina Coughlin in carrots, celery, Chicken, escarole, greens, onion, Pasta, Pumpkin, Rice, Soup, squash, sweet potatoes, Swiss Chard, tomatoes, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tags: fall soup, fall vegetables