A Beautiful Bowl of Soup: The Best Vegetarian Recipes

By Paulette Mitchell and William Meppem

“Highlights some of the most popular international recipes for vegetarian soup . . . makes a convincing argument for soup as the star course of any meal.” —Publishers Weekly

No, there is no chicken stock in this soup. What you’ll find here is page after glorious page of the loveliest, most delicious soups and stews—each and every one entirely vegetarian. Brimming with international flavors, Paulette Mitchell’s easy-to-follow recipes are paired with unique accompaniments, garnishes, and toppings that add tremendous visual appeal. Witness hearty Pumpkin Stew baked and served in a pumpkin shell; classic onion soup updated with crunchy goat cheese toasts; and Spicy Sweet Potato Ancho Bisque swirled with bright Roasted Red Pepper Cream. From Mediterranean Saffron Stew to Greek Spinach and Orzo Soup, these colorful dishes are simple enough for every day, yet sophisticated enough for elegant dinner parties. Instructions for making tasty vegetable stock from scratch, a selection of delicious vegan soups, and a helpful “tips” section make this gorgeous cookbook an important addition to any kitchen where good food and good health are on the menu.

“Any comment on how this book suits the season would only be redundant. The latest cold wind is reminder enough, as you can just about hear it whisper: ssssssooooooup.” —The Baltimore Sun

“The recipes in this cookbook span the culinary globe, with flavor profiles drawn from Mexico, Morocco, Mumbai, and Minnesota. For vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores, A Beautiful Bowl of Soup presents new ideas you’re sure to enjoy.” —Soup Chick®

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Nov 18, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452108742

Book preview

vegan recipes

The recipes in this book are meatless and many are also vegan, or not made with animal-derived foods, including dairy products (butter, cheese, milk) and eggs. These recipes are identified as such before the headnote. Below is a list of the vegan recipes in this book.

In some cases, there is a simple way to make some of the other recipes fit into the vegan category, such as by eliminating a dairy garnish. These alterations are noted with the recipes.

Recipes that call for dairy milk, half-and-half, or cream may be made vegan by substituting soy milk (sometimes labeled soy beverage or soy drink). This is also a way to prepare some of the soup recipes for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk. Be sure to purchase plain, rather than vanilla, soy milk. Be aware that the flavor will be sweeter than when a soup is made with cow’s milk. The appearance also may be different, since some soy milks are not pure white in color. (It may also be necessary to cook with oil rather than butter in order to make these recipes vegan.)

Also, please note that some breads, tortillas, and pitas may contain milk or egg products, so it is recommended that you read the fine print on their ingredient labels.

list of vegan recipes

Basil Pesto (154)

Berry-Wine Soup (137)

Black Bean Soup

with Mango Salsa (58)

Cashew-Carrot Stew (107)

Fried Sage (163)

Gingered Pear Soup (144)

Greek Spinach and Orzo Soup (89)

Herbed Garlic Croutons (150)

Indian Cumin-Scented Coconut Milk Stew

with Basmati Rice (99)

Mediterranean Saffron Stew

with Rouille (104)

Miso Soup (88)

Moroccan Chickpea Soup

with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis (64)

Moroccan Red Lentil–Bean Stew (102)

Polynesian Peanut Soup

with Toasted Coconut (48)

Red Lentil Soup

with Pita Croutons (60)

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup Bowls (152)

Tomato-Lentil Soup (90)

Tortilla Soup

with Avocado-Corn Salsa (76)

Vegetable Stock (21)

list of vegan recipes if modified

Acorn Squash and Fava Bean Stew

with Bulgur Wheat (108)

Arborio Rice Soup (62)

Asian Noodle Soup

with Spinach and Corn (84)

Caramelized Onion Soup

with Herbed Goat Cheese Toasts (78)

Cashew Chili (81)

Chunky Gazpacho (132)

Curried Granny Smith Apple and Yam Soup

with Glazed Pecans (42)

Egyptian Split-Pea Stew (117)

Farina Dumpling Soup (66)

Fresh Tomato–Orange Soup

with Fig Quenelles (56)

French Vegetable Soup

with Sherried Mushrooms (50)

Minestrone

with White Beans (92)

Pumpkin Stew (96)

Ratatouille Soup (72)

Ribollita (94)

Roasted Bell Pepper Soup

with Lemon Vinaigrette (38)

Roasted Vegetable Stew (113)

Spicy Green Bean and Potato Stew (116)

Summer Stew

with Couscous (110)

Toasted Pita Triangles (159)

Yukon Gold Potato Soup

with Black Olive Caviar (28)

paulette’s tips

These Tips, which you will find with the recipes, will answer questions you may have about selecting, storing, and making the most of the ingredients, as well as the how-to’s for several techniques.

aniseed and star anise (146)

Arborio rice (63)

Asian sesame oil (49)

avocados (131)

baby peas (41)

balsamic vinegar (124)

basmati rice (101)

bay leaf (67)

beets (126)

berries (137)

bouquet garni (33)

brown sugar (35)

butterhead lettuce (129)

cabbage (107)

cannellini beans (93)

chickpeas (65)

chilies (75)

Chinese wheat-flour noodles (84)

chives (39)

chutney (49)

cilantro (27)

coconut milk (101)

cooking wild rice (68)

couscous (112)

crème fraîche (147)

cremini mushrooms (63)

cucumbers (132)

curry powder (43)

dill (67)

double boiler

Reviews for A Beautiful Bowl of Soup

[John Winger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the flexibility of this book! As a vegetarian with vegan tendencies this has so many flexible options and it is written from the perspective of a true lover of not just food but the ingredients, seasoning and methods that are the very root of passionate cooking.

[heidialice · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With mouth-watering pictures and lush descriptions, this cookbook frequently serves as the inspiration for fall dinners at my house. My only complaint is that some recipes are quite complex and some require unusual/pricey ingredients. There are some soups that are vegan, and many that have an optional vegan method for making them.