Here is a collection of comforting Indian soup recipes that are perfect for this winter. Rich, creamy, and full of flavors, they are made with warming and healing spices and whole foods. This collection includes vegan and vegetarian soups.
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Indian Soups
Indian soups are made using healing spices and herbs. Spices like garam masala, turmeric powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, bay leaf, mustard seeds, and curry powder are used which comes with a range of health benefits to help you in the winter season.
These winter warmers are so comforting and easy to make. They are great as a starter or appetizer and can also be served with bread of your choice as a full meal. Most of these soups are made in an Instant Pot pressure cooker; however, I have also included stovetop instructions to make them.
Make sure you make a double batch as these soups freeze well, making them perfect for meal prep. Store a large pot of soup in the refrigerator and use it throughout the week. Most of these soups are low-carb, making them ideal for weight loss.
Browse through these easy recipes to make Indian flavors inspired soups that are better than your favorite Indian restaurant. Also, check out this awesome Indian potato recipe collection.
Mulligatawny Soup
This first recipe in my collection of Indian soup recipes is more popular outside India than within India.
Mulligatawny soup is a creamy and rich curried soup that originated from South Indian cuisine and has been adapted to suit Western tastebuds. It is really simple to make in an Instant Pot and is a set-and-forget recipe that is ready in 20 minutes.
Made with masoor dal as the main ingredient and topped with fresh cilantro, this warm soup originated during British rule in India to satiate their desire for soups. It was invented by Indian cooks to replicate thakkali rasam.
What started as a light, thin broth made with pepper, tamarind, and water has evolved into a thick, creamy, stew-like wholesome soup. The British concept of soup courses combined with Indian flavors led to the modernization of "mulagai-tanni" (which loosely translates to pepper water) to this Indian mulligatawny recipe.
Get the recipe here: Instant Pot Mulligatawny soup.
Vegetable Barley Soup
Healthy, wholesome, and nourishing Indian-style pearl barley soup is perfect for cold winter nights. This flavorful soup recipe uses warming spices, is very filling, and so easy to make. It is loaded with vegetables and can be customized to your liking.
Making it in the Instant Pot saves so much time and this vegan soup comes together in 30 minutes making it perfect for cold and rainy days.
Get the recipe here: Vegetable barley soup.
Quinoa Soup
Instant Pot quinoa vegetable soup is hearty, wholesome, and oh-so-delicious. It is packed with vegetables and plant-based protein. This healthy soup is packed with hearty vegetables and uses warming and healing spices with subtle flavors.
The best part is that this easy recipe comes together in under 30 minutes (including prep time). It uses minimal spices and can be customized to your liking.
Get the recipe here: Easy quinoa soup.
Curry Lentil Soup
Instant Pot lentil soup is a simple, hearty, and nutritious dish that is packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins. This recipe for curry lentil soup is made with simple ingredients and packed with warming spices. It can be whipped up in just 30 minutes, making it an easy, quick, and satisfying meal.
Get the recipe: Lentil soup.
Veg Manchow Soup
Manchow soup is an Indo-Chinese soup made with vegetables and Chinese sauce and is thickened using corn starch. This delicious soup has a sour taste and is very popular in Indian Chinese cuisine due to its easy preparation and bold flavors. It can be served as an appetizer or light meal.
A variety of mixed vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, green beans, spring onions, bok choy, and bamboo shoots can be used to make this sour soup.
This easy vegan soup is very famous in Indian restaurants that have an Indo-Chinese menu. Substitute the vegetable stock with chicken stock to make hearty Manchow chicken soup.
Get the recipe here: Vegetable Manchow soup.
Sweet Corn Soup
Sweet corn soup is a popular Indo-Chinese soup made with corn kernels and vegetables. This vegan and gluten-free soup is a hugely popular soup in India and is a part of most restaurant menus in India.
This clear soup has a burst of flavor - sweet, spicy, and tangy. This winter comfort food is great as an appetizer or a light meal. You can swap the vegetable broth with chicken broth in this recipe. You can add egg yolks or whole eggs to make corn egg drop soup.
Indo-Chinese or Indian-Chinese food is a distinct fusion cuisine where Chinese seasoning and cooking techniques are adapted to Indian cooking and taste buds. This fiery fusion of food has pungent sauces like soy sauce, chili sauce, and vinegar combined with very Indian flavors like ginger, garlic, and chili making the most unique-tasting dishes.
Get the recipe here: Sweet corn soup.
Tomato Shorba
Tomato shorba is a hearty, delicious, and easy-to-make Indian-style tomato soup. Also called tamatar ka shorba, this creamy tomato soup is made using cilantro/coriander stems and tomatoes along with a few spices. Making it in an Instant Pot is a breeze and this tomato soup recipe is ready in 20 minutes.
It has a nice texture even without blending. Serve it with bread croutons for a light meal or pair it with garlic bread. This Indian tomato soup gets its unique and distinctive flavor from the use of coriander stems. Add a dash of lemon for extra vitamin C.
Get the recipe here: Tamatar shorba.
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Hearty, flavorful, and delicious butternut squash soup is perfect for a cold chilly night. This squash soup recipe uses warming Indian spices like garam masala and is so healthy and nourishing. It is light on the stomach and oh-so-easy to make.
Serve piping hot curried soup with naan bread or any crusty bread for a perfect fall dinner. The addition of coconut milk to this hearty soup adds a nice sweetness. Swap the squash with pumpkin to make pumpkin soup with a fun Indian twist.
Get the recipe here: Butternut squash curry soup.
Millet Soup
Millet soup is a healthy, nutritious, and thick soup made with foxtail millet. Made in an Instant Pot, this soup is ready in 30 minutes (with only 10 minutes of hands-on time). This gluten-free one-pot meal can be served as a wholesome dinner and are perfect for cold nights.
This creamy soup also makes a great savory breakfast the next morning, keeping you full longer. Blend the soup using an immersion blender to get a creamy texture or keep it as-is for a chunky soup. I am using foxtail millet in the recipe which is very nutritious, naturally gluten-free, and associated with several health benefits. It is rich in fiber, vitamins, iron, and antioxidants.
Get the recipe here: Millet soup in Instant Pot.
Palak Soup
Simple and hearty spinach soup that is fresh, vibrant, and nutritious is perfect for cold evenings. This Indian vegetarian soup can be put together in less than 20 minutes and is made with a touch of spice.
It is a great way to enjoy greens and is packed with flavors. This spicy soup is topped with heavy cream which adds richness to it. Try this Indian recipe for spinach soup and enjoy it as the first course of the meal.
Get the recipe here: Indian spinach soup.
Gujarati Kadhi
Kadhi is a tangy and sweet yogurt-based dish made with dahi (yogurt), besan (chickpea flour), and spices. This extremely popular dish from Gujarat is very easy to make and takes just 15 minutes. This warm yogurt soup is an interesting addition to your Indian soup recipes.
A hint of sweetness from the sugar that balances a mild tangy taste from the yogurt makes this dish very delicious with exotic flavors. A quick, fuss-free, and simple dish that is so full of flavor, this dish can be served as a vegetarian soup too.
Get the recipe here: Indian yogurt soup.
Lentil Spinach Soup
I am also including dhal here in my collection of Indian soup recipes. Dal palak is an easy lentil soup made with pigeon pea lentils or yellow lentils. Made in an Instant Pot, it uses frozen spinach leaves and is topped with lemon juice or lime juice.
It can be served as a comforting soup or paired with rice and aloo curry for a hearty meal.
Get the recipe here: Spinach lentil soup.
To conclude
These Indian soups are great as an appetizer or a light meal. Each of these recipes is tried and tested to give delicious soups every time. Do give these Indian soup recipes a try and let me know your feedback in the comments section.
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