Soup is a transformative food. It has the power to heal, comfort and fortify—in short, it’s the ideal winter nourishment. There is a veritable kaleidoscope of soupy soul cures out there, from the classic to the exotic, across multiple cultures, and at this time of year we need all of those things in a big way. We’ve gathered some our most satisfying steaming bowls to ease and please on even the darkest, coldest day.
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
Hot and sour soup is a primal healing elixir: It packs a bit of heat, exotic mushrooms like chewy shiitakes and frilly black wood ears, and lots of protein. The texture is thick, almost viscous, but in a good way. Don’t let the abundance of tofu cubes mislead you. This soup is certainly not vegetarian, with its chicken broth base and abundant clumps of seasoned ground pork loin. Scrambled egg strands mingle with julienned bamboo shoots, and the whole mélange is touched with soy sauce, sesame oil, cilantro and green onion. $3.95 cup, $8.95 bowl. 12649 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka; 952.797.9888.
Tuscan Chicken Soup
This is the soup that your fantasy Italian grandmother would cook for you. It’s a chicken soup, yes, but elevated by sunshiny, savory flavors of the Mediterranean: tomatoes, garlic, onion and basil. D’Amico is generous with chunks of chicken and fine grains of pastina. Let yourself dream about a summer’s day in Italy with every luscious bite. Bring some home and share the dream with family. $7.29. 810 Lake St. E., Wayzata; 952.476.8866.
Wild Rice and Ham
The Lunds & Byerly’s sign says that their wild rice and ham soup is famous. Hyperbole? We don’t think so—one spoonful and we were smitten. It’s thick and creamy but not gloppy with starch, crowded with nutty wild rice grains, smoky with ham bits and kissed with a hint of maple. It’s simultaneously grounding and uplifting, a delicious and distinctive representative of our hibernal clime. If you need an immediate infusion, you can get a pint of the hot stuff from a bubbling cauldron on site. Otherwise, bring home a few quarts to heat up for a gang, et voilà: instant cozy night indoors. Medium container, $5.99; large $8.99. 1151 Wayzata Blvd. E., Wayzata; 952.476.2226.
French Onion
French onion soup is easy to take for granted; we’ve been enjoying it for years. But some versions are better than others, and Maynard’s is right up there. It’s a simple soup, but a successful preparation requires both patience and fine ingredients. At Maynard’s, the onions are cooked down to melting transparency in an earthy beef broth accented with thyme. A thick slice of baguette blanketed in melted gruyère cheese forms a sort of seal; we love how the cheese oozes down the sides of the bowl. It’s a salty broth, hearty with beef stock and full of minerals. $6.50. 685 Excelsior Blvd., Excelsior; 952.470.1800.
Shrimp Tempura Udon
Udon noodles are fatter and squishier than other noodles, and coiled up in a lightly flavored, slightly sweet and clear broth, they practically dissolve in your mouth. The overall effect is both soothing and bolstering, a beautifully simple bowl of hit-the-spot nourishment. It’s a generous cauldron of yumminess; leftovers are excellent reheated. Freshly fried, piping hot shrimp tempura lounges on the surface like a bathing beauty—eat that first, before it gets soggy. $13.95. 683 Lake St., Wayzata; 952.476.7000.
Matzo Ball Soup
Often referred to as “Jewish penicillin,” matzo ball soup is the ultimate when it comes to comforting nourishment. We reckon Crosstown Deli’s version is the best in the greater Twin Cities area. The broth is a rich golden elixir of deep chicken flavor nuanced by fresh thyme. Large chunks of chicken meat, carrots, celery and onion orbit the fist-sized matzo ball, which is impossibly light and fluffy, a bit eggy, and touched with dill, parsley and chives. This is true soul food. $7.49 single matzo; $9.99 double matzo. 2795 Hedberg Drive, Hopkins; 952.546.6595.
Dal
Dal means “split” in the Sanskrit language, which refers to the beans or lentils that form the bulk of this pungent, stew-like soup. There are a gazillion and one ways to make a dal, and every region in India has a distinct version, as does Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. At Bukhara, the dal is made from lentils simmered with hot green chilies, plenty of fresh cilantro, garlic and cumin. It’s an excellent starter or a lovely light meal, especially with some just-baked naan bread. $9.99. 15718 Wayzata Blvd., 952.476.7997.
Avgolemono
The menu describes this as a “traditional egg-lemon delight.” It’s a classic Greek soup that may have been a gift via the Jewish expulsion from Spain. It’s simple and distinctive: Raw eggs creamily thicken in hot chicken broth, and a healthy addition of fresh lemon juice makes it bright and tart. One slurp and you taste why it’s a classic. It feels restorative and energizing at the same time. $2.75 cup, $5.35 bowl. 15600 Highway 7, Minnetonka; 952.912.1000.
Jambalaya at Lone Spur Grill and Bar is full of chili pepper, garlic and Cajun spices.
Jambalaya
Smoked chicken breast and spicy andouille sausage (a coarse-grained Cajun pork sausage) conspire with baby shrimp, okra, green peppers and onions in a busy jambalaya that will heat you to the bone. Jambalaya is a classic creole dish derived from Spanish paella, which is a sort of rice, shellfish and sausage casserole. The tomato-rich broth is full of chili pepper, garlic and Cajun spices. White rice adds a bit of ballast; it comes with warm flour tortillas, a monster slab of cornbread and a pile of corn chips. $9.99. 11032 Cedar Lake Rd., Minnetonka; 952.540.0181.
Daily Soup Special
It’s dinnertime. You’re exhausted and you don’t feel like cooking but you don’t want to engage in an extended production; nor do want to drain your wallet dry. Cruise by Scoreboard and hit their all-you-can-eat salad bar —the biggest we’ve ever seen—which includes a nightly “hot item” and a choice of two rotating soups, plus ice cream. Check the website to see what the daily soup is—options might include artichoke bisque, is elegant and understated; or split pea with ham, which is hearty, smoky and comforting. You might as well add a side salad, since it’s included in the price; the hot-squishy garlic bread sticks are killer dippers. $9.75. 5765 Sanibel Drive, Minnetonka; 952.935.6537.
Macafferty's Potato Soup
Irish cuisine is famous for its handiness with the humble potato; Jake O’Connor’s illustrates admirable dexterity with the tuber in a rich, creamy soup. Unlike many potato soups, this is chunky, with big hunks of potato, lots of tender carrots and a dash of smoke with both ham and bacon. Revel in the clubby, cozy pub atmosphere where you can hunker down in a dark snug (booth), and warm your weary bones. $3.95 cup, $5.95 bowl. 200 Water St., Excelsior; 952.908.9650.
Coconut Curry Seafood Stew
This bowl runneth over with a treasure trove of fresh goodies from the sea: briny mussels, toothsome shrimp and tender fish. The generous amount of seafood is bathed in a complex brew of coconut milk and shellfish stock, and spiked with a potent Thai red curry. It’s redolent of lemongrass, strong with ginger and garlic, and hot with chili, just on the edge of the shy Minnesotan palate. It’s more of a splurge than a regular ol’ bowl of chowder; take time to savor the luxurious ingredients and exotic flavors. $16, bowl; $32 entrée. 739 E. Lake St., Wayzata; 952.475.3636.
