A Steaming Bowl of Goodness

5 Great Soup Cookbooks for National Soup Month

Does the chilly weather have you craving noodly goodness? Or maybe you’re after something heartier like a velvety split pea. Good soup can be hard to find, so learn how to make your own. Make nutritious homemade broths. Fill your kitchen with the delectable fragrance of a simmering stew. January is National Soup Month! And what better time for a dish that is both warming and nutritious? We decided to help out by recommending five great soup cookbooks. Whether you're looking for a good vegan stew, interested in trying your hand at ramen, or trying to figure out how to put your new Instant Pot to use, we have options for you.

Best All-Around: Soup & Comfort

This cookbook by Pamela Ellgen offers 135 delicious recipes appealing to a wide variety of eaters, including gluten-free, vegan/vegetarian, paleo, and more. From timesaving tips for making your own stock to shopping advice, this guide provides practical solutions for feeding everyone in your house.

Best Noodles: Simply Ramen

This collection of 70 scrumptious, noodly recipes is great, whether cooking for one or a crowd. Author Amy Kimoto-Kahn shows you how to put together a bowl of piping hot ramen in a myriad of ways with one of four basic soup bases, ramen noodles (homemade or store-bought), and a wide variety of ingredients, both traditional and nontraditional.

Best Vegan: Soup's On by The 30-minute Vegan

Chef Mark Reinfeld is on a mission: to prove that you don't need meat or dairy—or a lot of time—to create a hearty, satisfying meal. This definitive guide covers everything from homemade stocks to garnishes and sides. The fully plant-based recipes include everything from chowders to consommés to bisques to dessert.

Best International: Soup for Syria

Chefs and cookbook authors from around the world came together to contribute a recipe to this beautiful collection. With easy-to-follow instructions, no-fuss ingredients, and stunning color photos, these recipes are both cosmopolitan and accessible. All profits from the sales of the cookbook will be donated to organizations serving Syrian refugees.

Best Instant Pot: Stew and Soup

Trying to figure out how to make soups and stews in your new Instant Pot? This cookbook by Helena Walker provides the answers with a host of healthy and delicious options from chicken soup to seafood stew to international recipes.

Feeling hungry yet? Set your pot boiling with one of these great options. And if you have your own recommendations for books or recipes, let us know here or on social media. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily book recommendations, literary tidbits, and more.

Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon