10 Ina Garten Soups and Stews That Will Warm You Up This Winter
Ina Garten knows that winter is the perfect time of year to enjoy a yummy, homemade soup or stew. They are relatively easy one-pot meals that can feed a crowd, with minimal kitchen clean-up and dishwashing required. Here is a list of our 10 favorite Ina Garten soups and stews that will warm you up this winter.
1. Everything is homemade in Ina Garten’s Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls recipe
The Barefoot Contessa’s recipe for Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls features five-pound roasting chickens and a ton of veggies and spices. She also teaches you how to make homemade Matzo Balls with extra large eggs, chicken stock, rendered chicken fat, fresh parsley, kosher salt, and matzo meal.
2. Parker’s Beef Stew requires just 15 minutes of prep time
Garten’s recipe for Parker’s Beef Stew is super easy and takes just 15 minutes to put together before it bakes in the oven for a couple of hours.
However, the night before you plan on serving this hearty dish, you’ll need to cut up two-and-a-half pounds of good quality chuck beef into cubes. Then, put it in a bowl with a mixture of red wine, garlic, and bay leaves, pop it in the fridge, and let it marinate overnight.
3. A twist on a comfort food classic
Nothing goes better together than grilled cheese and tomato soup. Garten’s twist on this comfort food classic is her recipe for Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons. The easy tomato soup is made with good olive oil, yellow onions, minced garlic, chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, saffron threads, kosher salt, and black pepper, orzo, and heavy cream.
For the Grilled Cheese Croutons, you’ll need thick slices of country white bread, unsalted butter, and Gruyere cheese.
4. A twist on a comfort food classic — part two
Another idea from the Barefoot Contessa that changes up a comfort food classic is her recipe for Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Puff Pastry Croutons. This creamy soup from Garten’s Modern Comfort Food cookbook will warm your soul. The flaky, buttery puff pastry croutons — which are made from store-bought dough — are the perfect finishing touch.
5. Ina Garten’s Chicken Chili is a crowd pleaser
If you need a go-to Chicken Chili recipe, then you’ve come to the right place. Garten’s Chicken Chili is a yummy crowd pleaser that is actually quite versatile. Following Garten’s recipe to the letter will yield amazing results. But, if you want to kick up the heat, go vegetarian and substitute tempeh for the chicken, or add beans, this recipe can handle it.
Serve it up with chopped onions, corn chips, grated cheddar cheese, and sour cream for a scrumptious chili experience.
6. Inspiration for ‘The Barefoot Contessa’s’ Ultimate Beef Stew came from a trip to Paris
Ultimate Beef Stew is Garten’s second beef stew recipe on this list, and she found inspiration for this dish during a trip to Paris. Back in the spring and summer of 1971, Ina and her beloved Jeffrey camped in a tent outside of the French city. She says this recipe was inspired by the takeout stews that the young couple ate in their tent.
“Over the years I learned a lot about what makes beef stew really delicious,” she says. “A nice red wine, short ribs instead of chuck. It’s a classic recipe, just done in a more modern way.”
7. Lentil Vegetable Soup is ‘out of sight’
Garten’s Lentil Vegetable Soup recipe is “out of sight,” according to one reviewer. However, they warned that this hearty, delicious dish does require A LOT of chopping.
“If you’ve got a food processor, plan on using it!” the reviewer explained. “Some folks said in their reviews that you wouldn’t miss the meat in this recipe; they’re absolutely on-target. This meal has a zestiness along with a hale and hearty feeling to it that leaves you satiated. Put it on your list!!!”
8. Even kids love Ina Garten’s five-star Parker’s Split Pea Soup
Even if you aren’t a fan of peas, chances are you’ll love Garten’s recipe for Parker’s Split Pea Soup. One reviewer said it was so good that even her kids asked for more.
“I have never been a fan of peas at all. My husband loves split pea soup, so I decided to give this recipe a try one night,” the reviewer explained.
“I have made it 4 times now and even my picky 4yo eats it and asks for more. We love how easy and simple the recipe is. This is definitely a staple in our house now especially as we move into the winter months. I enjoy making bread, so I started making bread bowls to serve this in and it is a fantastic combination.”
9. Store-bought pesto is fine in Ina Garten’s recipe for Winter Minestrone with Garlic Bruschetta
The Barefoot Contessa’s recipe for Winter Minestrone with Garlic Bruschetta comes from her Foolproof cookbook. For the soup ingredients, Garten says that store-bought is fine when it comes to the pesto.
The same rule applies to the Garlic Bruschetta. All you need is a store-bought baguette with some good olive oil and a clove of garlic.
10. Beef Bourguignon is served over toasted country bread
To make Ina’s Beef Bourguignon, you’ll need a few kitchen tools. For this intermediate recipe, make sure to have a dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid, a slotted spoon, a large plate, plenty of paper towels, and matches.
When serving this stew, the Barefoot Contessa says to spoon it over toasted country bread rubbed with garlic clove.
The Barefoot Contessa airs Sundays on the Food Network.
