Soup
Turkey Ramen
Edward Lee, executive chef and owner of 610 Magnolia, in Louisville, Kentucky, shared this recipe exclusively with Epicurious. Known for blending Southern and Asian flavors, Lee uses the leftover turkey carcass to make a stock infused with country ham, ginger, garlic, and daikon radish. The richly aromatic stock forms the broth for Lee's ramen bowl, which he fills with tofu, avocado, watercress, scallions, shiitake mushrooms, soft-boiled eggs, and leftover turkey meat. Freshly grated Parmesan is the final, unexpected garnish. "It adds umami to the dish," says Lee, adding, "it disappears into the broth and adds a depth and nuttiness."
For more on Lee, plus four more chefs' recipes for transforming your Thanksgiving extras, see The Five Best Leftover Turkey Recipes.
Farro Soup with Kale and Cannellini
Chewy nubbin of farro give special appeal to a hearty Mediterranean vegetable-bean soup that's loaded with calcium-rich kale. If you don't have time to cook the beans from scratch, check out the Express Farro and Chickpea Soup variation.
Seafood en Brodo with Tarragon Pesto
Most fish markets will sell you the bones you need to make the rich broth, but avoid those from oily fish like mackerel or bluefish, which will overpower the stew's flavor.
Squash and Bean Minestrone
To prevent the pasta from getting too soft, we cook it separately and toss it with olive oil and chopped parsley, then spoon it into each bowl of soup.
French Onion Soup with Comté
Don't rush the browning of the onions—it's essential to the finished soup's flavor.
Katchkie Farm Cool Cucumber Yogurt Soup
This soup is about as easy as opening a can, and it is especially good for lunch on a hot day or poured out of a thermos at a picnic; it is so refreshing and satisfying. And if you have cucumbers in your garden, here is a way besides salad or pickles to use your bounty. This recipe can easily be doubled.
Shoyu Ramen
Lush pork, toothsome noodles, and a heady broth you can't stop slurping—it's no wonder ramen joints are drawing droves of diners, off-duty chefs, and seemingly everyone on your Instagram feed. Bringing shoyu ramen home takes a trip to an Asian market, three days of work, and your largest pot, but this low-stress (really!) labor of love might be the best soup you'll ever make.
Beet, Ginger, and Coconut Milk Soup
"This looks impressive, but it's simple to whip up," Bemis says. "It goes great with crusty bread and champagne."
Creamy White Onion Soup
To ensure the snow-white color of this soup, don't let the onions brown.
Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Coconut Soup)
This silky, aromatic soup is a complete meal in a bowl.
Corn and Green Chile Soup
Ready in no time, this chunky and spicy soup requires very little cleanup.
Creamy Green Gazpacho
The addition of avocado makes this cold soup creamier than your average gazpacho, and the greens make it, well, greener, and with jalapeño included, too, it's got a serious kick that makes it anything but traditional. It probably goes without saying, but if you serve this to Spaniards, either don't call it gazpacho or be prepared for some arguments at the table.
Michel Richard's Fish Soup with Flounder, Crayfish, and Squid
Washington, DC's renowned chef-owner of Citronelle has a special relationship with seafood: He was born in Brittany on the northwest coast of France. Chef Michel Richard has been decorated with nearly every cooking award, including the James Beard award, and he is known for combining fresh California ingredients with traditional French cooking. This recipe, a simplified take on a traditional French bouillabaisse, is sure to satisfy.
Lamb Broth with Cucumber & Mint Yogurt
Cooked gently over a low heat, lamb shank becomes meltingly tender—perfect for an elegant, restorative broth.
Curried Squash Soup
"I totally ripped this off from my mom." —Allie Lewis Clapp, food editor
Chilled Corn Soup with Lobster Salad
Two tips: To save time, you can buy 2 steamed whole lobsters or 2 cups of cooked lobster meat. And, when prepping the corn, save your cobs for corn stock.
Chilled Tomato and Stone Fruit Soup
This riff on gazpacho gets unexpected sweetness—and great color— from the addition of cherries and a peach.
Porotos Granados
This is my version of the traditional Chilean squash and bean stew. It's wonderfully hearty and warming and, like so many such dishes, even better if you leave it for twenty-four hours and reheat it gently before serving.
Cantaloupe Gazpacho
Ryan Lowder, The Copper Onion, Salt Lake City: "The cantaloupes we get here are really sweet, so we counter that with savory flavors."