One of my favorite parts about travel is tasting the local cuisine. When I’m not traveling, I absolutely LOVE making food inspired by my travels. The Travel Architect has a whole series on this and I get so inspired by what she bakes.

Since we’re still stuck in the colder months of the year, soup is pretty much a staple in my house. It’s cozy, warm, and reminds me of great memories when I whip up something from another country. I wanted to bring everyone a little piece of travel-inspired delicious with soups from around the work that you can make!

Russia: Beef & Borscht

Borscht is not only fun to say dramatically, it’s even better to eat! Literally meaning sour soup, Borscht has a long history in Russia. It started with parsnip shoots, then potatoes were added a while later, and then finally the tomato element made its way into the soup. If borscht is your all-time favorite soup, you’re lucky. It can be eaten hot or cold making it great year round!

Morocco: Vegetarian Harira

Vegetarian soups don’t get enough hype, so I wanted to include one that I absolutely cannot wait to try. Harira originated in Northern Africa and is a staple during Ramadan where it’s typically served with a side of dates. While this soup does take time to prepare, the infusion of all the spices and textures is well worth the time judging by the ingredient list alone. One of my favorite things about this soup is you can make it super thick and creamy or add more water to create more servings!

West Africa: Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup

Germany: Lentil Soup

Linsensuppe is a hearty mix for those who love their soups with meat and a lot of veggies. While lentil soup originates in the Middle East, this variety has the German cultural stamp on it. Made with German sausages, bacon, lentils, potatoes, and so much more, the meat is what makes this authentically German. Better yet, make the stock out of ham bones for an extra dollop of cultural accuracy.

Philippines: Chicken Sotanghon Soup

Sotanghon is Filipino for vermicelli which is the type of noodle featured in this delicious soup. They were introduced into the Philippines by the Chinese during the colonial period and were quickly incorporated into local cuisine. While the traditional meat to use is chicken, you’ll also see lots of variations using fish. Whichever protein you choose, you know this is going to taste great and be such a comfort soup to curl up with and a great alternative to American chicken noodle soup.

Iran: Eggplant Soup

Spice up your soup variety with eggplant soup! It’s definitely not a common soup in the USA, so it’s the perfect soup to whip up when you want a taste of travel in your life. Eggplant was introduced to the region through trade with Asia, but funnily enough locals considered it poisonous. Eventually it was deemed safe to eat and has become a massively popular vegetable to add to dishes in the region. Recipes in Iran are typically prepared to serve an entire family. More soup!? Yes PLEASE.

Turkey: Celeriac Soup

Celeriac is something I had never heard of until a few years ago and it turns out that most grocery stores have them. They are sort of like if a potato and celery had a baby. I hate celery, but I like celeriac, so there’s no hairy water taste here. It’s native to the Mediterranean, so of course it’s perfect to make a soup from when you’re missing the crystal clear waters of that area. It pairs well with so many vibrant flavors and this soup has the creaminess that makes winter soups perfect for staying inside with. If you want to go the extra mile, bake up some traditional somum bread to use for dipping!

Left photo from foodandjourneys.com

Taiwan: Beef & Noodle Soup

There’s just something about noodle soup that is the absolute best thing in the world. It’s packed with flavor, any meat pairs well with it, you can make them vegetarian, and you can add a ridiculous amount of delicious veggies. There’s no better soup, so of course I had to add one to this list. Yes, there are a lot of ingredients but each one adds a new level of awesome and taking the time to prepare everything well makes the soup a labor of love which all food should be.

Iraq: Pomegranate Soup

One thing I never thought to put in soup is a pomegranate, but I feel like this is a hidden gem most of the world is overlooking. Ash-e Anar is a traditional soup found throughout the Middle East.

Australia: Roasted Pumpkin Soup