October 8, 2021 | LIFE | By Mahnoor Rehman | Photo by Sierra Romero
The breeze has started to cool, and the light and warmth of the summer feel far away. This transition feels natural, and the arrival of fall is celebrated for many purposes in different parts of the world.
Throughout history, people have celebrated the start of seasons by cooking food. When one thinks about the fall season, often the first food item that comes to mind is some sort of soup.
Whether you’re thinking of whipping up a stew or a veggie puree, fall is one of the best times to gulp some warm soups for a gentle and pleasing meal of the day. The texture, the aroma, and the warmth create comfort and a feeling of belonging for people, especially for students who are living in dorms and houses far away from their homes.
The most customary soups for fall are the ones made with good old farm pumpkins. You can’t go wrong with the traditional ways of roasting a pumpkin with olive oil and using the rich flesh with dairy to serve a simple pumpkin soup.
However, you can really be as innovative as you want when it comes to pumpkin flavors. With the help of coconut creams, garlic, cinnamon, ginger, maple, and other countless ingredients, a simple pumpkin soup can be elevated for the fall breeze.
Another wonderful and easy soup is black bean soup. There are, of course, also many alterations to this traditional soup recipe. Black beans are already loaded with healthy nutrients, and with a dash of seasoning, the soup becomes a loving experience for everyone.
The most common recipe begins with heating your choice of veggies with some olive oil, followed by the addition of broth, beans, and a mix of seasonings such as cumin, oregano, or maybe even some bay leaf.
Another wonderful thing about black bean soup is that you can always play with the toppings. You might just want to stick with some shredded cheese, but you can always add tortilla chips, sour cream, scallions, etc. A friendly tip: to thicken the soup, you can blend the beans with tender veggies using an electric blender.
Warmth and flavor are some of the most treasured things about the fall. One flavor that always comes to mind and reminds me of my childhood is the lovely chicken egg drop soup. As you can tell from its name, the soup is made with chicken broth, eggs, and light seasoning.
The broth is earthy and natural, and the chunks of protein make this a nourishing meal. A typical method of modifying this soup is by putting boiled noodles in the recipe. Some people also choose to make the soup with soy and tofu instead of chicken. In the end, whichever way you decide to make your chicken egg drop soup, the flavors are always delicious and uplifting for your body’s health.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer sipping your favorite fall soup or dipping some bread in it; the homely experience will always end up giving you comfort and love. It is the food and its qualities that have a valuable, tangible impact on how we navigate through seasons in different places. Sharing recipes or even making a big steaming bowl of soup with your friends is always a pleasant experience, and allows us to take a wellness break from our fast, busy lives.