Thanksgiving Soup Recipes to Start the Feast

Mikkel Vang

A taste of autumn's bounty in a bowl is a good start to the holiday dinner.

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Mikkel Vang

Starting your Thanksgiving dinner with an elegant soup is a bit like dipping your toe into the pool before jumping off the high-dive. It's a slow warm-up, a gentle easing in to what is, for many of us, the biggest meal of the year. Fall ingredients and flavors are a natural for soup, too—think of all those hearty root vegetables, and how wonderfully they transform into silky purées. Or of how nicely fall spices like ginger and cloves blend into a creamy spoonful of soup.

The Thanksgiving soups here run the gamut from traditional to inventive, and incorporate autumn superstars, such as the honeynut squash and parsnip combination shown here, as well as pumpkin, butternut squash, apple, and pear. There are loads of luxurious purées, such as a Leek-and-Parsnip Soup with Caviar and Black-Pepper Cream (and the caviar needn't break the bank); Cauliflower and Roasted Garlic Soup; Harvest Pumpkin Soup; and Butternut Bisque. And wow-worthy garnishes—herbed crostini, caramelized cauliflower florets, thin slices of baked pears—make them feel extra-special.

One word of advice, considering the many dishes to come: Don't overdo it on the portions. You can place the bowls on a larger plate to look more complete and balanced. And now's the time to break out your soup tureen, if you have one. If not, any pretty pot or large serving bowl will work just fine.

Finally, busy cooks, rejoice: Most of these soups (and many of their garnishes) can be prepared far in advance.

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Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Bryan Gardner

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This lovely soup is a breeze to make: Simply cook the vegetables (and apple) and blend. A smattering of zippy, warm spices—ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves—give it wonderful depth of flavor.

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Caramelized-Shallot Soup

William Brinson

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This creative recipe is a play on the classic French onion soup, swapping in shallots for the onions, and topping the bowls with melted Gruyère. Sautéed chestnuts add a little crunch.

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Leek-and-Parsnip Soup with Caviar and Black-Pepper Cream

Jonny Valiant

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Definitely not your everyday soup, this leek and parsnip purée is topped with creme fraîche spiked with black pepper and a small dollop of caviar.

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Ginger Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons

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You can use any winter squash—butternut, acorn, or sugar pumpkin—to make this balanced, flavorful soup. Parmesan-dusted croutons are a savory garnish.

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Cauliflower and Roasted Garlic Soup

Krause, Johansen

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A lovely soup that starts with cauliflower simmered with thyme; it's then puréed with plenty of roasted garlic cloves and sautéed onions. The pièce de résistance: caramelized cauliflower florets scattered on top.

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Harvest Pumpkin Soup

Krause, Johansen

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The combination of puréed pumpkin, potato, and turnip result in a soup that's a perfect mix of sweet and savory. There's a hint of thyme, too, which adds lovely flavor.

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Butternut Bisque

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This creamy butternut squash bisque is seasoned with cinnamon and a bit of cayenne powder, though you can certainly play with the spices. Try ground nutmeg or cloves instead of cinnamon, or add a Southwestern touch with a pinch of chili powder.

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Chestnut-Mushroom Soup

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Here's another bowl that's definitely a notch about your usual Thursday evening soup. It features sophisticated roasted chestnuts and cremini and shiitake mushrooms—but it's surprisingly straightforward to make.

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Creamy Winter Squash Soup with Herbed Crostini

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This puréed winter squash and potato soup is delicious on its own, but for the holiday, a crostini garnish brushed with cream that has been infused with chopped rosemary, parsley, and thyme, then broiled until crisp feels just right.

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Pear and Autumn-Vegetable Soup

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Bartlett pears, butternut squash or pumpkin, and turnips bring sweetness and earthiness to this creamy fall soup. Thin slices of baked pears make an elegant garnish that looks as lovely as it tastes.

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Creamy Broccoli-and-Spinach Soup

Yuki Sugiura

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Amid the beige canvas of Thanksgiving, a bright green soup made from puréed broccoli and handfuls of baby spinach is a refreshing and bracing start. Another bonus: This velvety-textured soup doesn't contain any cream.

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Creamy Mushroom Soup

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Fresh wild mushrooms combined with dried porcini and morels make for an elegant starter with rich flavor. This creamy soup gets extra depth from Madeira wine or cognac.

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Pumpkin Chestnut Soup

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Whole peeled chestnuts and Yukon Gold potatoes add structure to this festive pumpkin soup, enhancing its texture. An optional toasted pumpkin seed garnish delivers a welcome bit of crunch.

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Thanksgiving Soup Recipes to Start the Feast

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Spiced Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

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Caramelized-Shallot Soup

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Leek-and-Parsnip Soup with Caviar and Black-Pepper Cream

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Ginger Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons

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Cauliflower and Roasted Garlic Soup

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Harvest Pumpkin Soup

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Butternut Bisque

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Chestnut-Mushroom Soup

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Creamy Winter Squash Soup with Herbed Crostini

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Pear and Autumn-Vegetable Soup

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Creamy Broccoli-and-Spinach Soup

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Creamy Mushroom Soup

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Pumpkin Chestnut Soup

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