A diverse selection of soups is essential. As you’re planning your dinner party soups, try to include thick, hearty ones that stick to the ribs; rich, creamy ones that taste like a hug in a bowl; and clear, savory ones to provide a nice balance.
Creamy Potato Soup with Fresh Dill
A potato soup is a welcome guest at any meal. A basic potato soup starts with fried onions, good chicken stock, and lots of potatoes. From there you can build all sorts of wonderful variations. Add sliced farmer’s sausage or diced smoky bacon for a hearty potato soup that smells divine, or keep it vegetarian and amp up the fragrance factor with a generous spoonful of fresh thyme leaves and a cup or two of corn. You could also stir in smoked salmon or oysters for a scrumptious chowder.
My favorite vegetarian version is made with lots of fresh dill, or a tablespoon of dill seeds if you can’t find fresh herbs. The dill gives this wonderful winter soup the smell of summer.
Gingery Red Onion Soup
This is my take on the traditional French Onion Soup, and it is the best thing to sip on a cold winter’s night while the wind howls outside. I use loads of red onions fried long and slow until they’re meltingly soft and sweet as candy. At the end I stir in a generous portion of grated fresh ginger and a couple of cloves of chopped garlic. This ensures a soup that is not only rich in flavor, but full of cold- and flu-fighting properties.
I love the addition of bread and cheese to French Onion Soup, so I always add it to this version, too. I use whatever bread I have on hand -- croutons, toast batons, or broken crackers -- and top it with whatever cheese I can find, parmesan, cheddar, or even feta. They are all rich and scrumptious.
I always like to add a simple, creamy soup to my dinner party soups menu, and Celeriac Soup is one of my favorites. It is light yet filling and is especially nice cooked with leeks and topped with crispy fried onions.
Bread and Butter
A hot bowl of soup just wouldn’t be the same without the accompaniment of fresh bread spread generously with butter. Whether you love a simple loaf of white sandwich bread still warm from the oven and cut in thick slices or a rustic loaf of Olive Rosemary Bread cut in thin slices, either will pair beautifully with any of these soups. Savory scones are another delicious option, especially our Broccoli Cheese Scones that are tender, flavorful, and oh-so-cheesy.
Good butter to spread lavishly over your good bread is a vital part of a soup dinner party. I personally love salted butter, but some swear unsalted is the only decent thing to use. Having a bit of both, softened to room temperature so they’re easy to spread, solves the problem nicely.
Make sure your serving table is piled high with plenty of bowls and spoons so your guests don’t need to wash theirs in between servings, and you’re all set for a dinner party where comfort reigns supreme.
Creamy Potato Soup with Fresh Dill
Ingredients:
- 1 large onion, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 5 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 6-8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Fresh dill for garnish
Directions:
Set a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add butter/olive oil and onions, and fry until onions are translucent and begin to brown.
Add potatoes, dill, salt, pepper, and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20-30 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
Remove from heat and puree with an immersion blender. Stir in heavy cream.
Serve hot with fresh dill for garnish.
Gingery Red Onion Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4-5 red onions, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 6-8 cups beef stock
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups croutons
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
Set a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add butter/olive oil and onions, and fry until onions are soft and melting, about 30 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and stir to combine.
Add stock, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10-15 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in Worcestershire sauce.
Ladle into bowls and top with croutons and parmesan cheese. Place bowls under hot broiler in oven until cheese melts.
Serve hot.
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