No Croutons Required - Hearty Soups

There is a chill in the air and a nostalgia for summer threatens an indulgence in ennui until I remember the comforts that go along with the colder months. Little is more cheering and curing than a bowl of hearty soup. Cuddle up and nourish yourself with October's edition of No Croutons Required. The choice is not easy, but help us crown the October champion by expressing your preference in comments or via email. Please note the host's soups are not eligible for voting.

Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe is the early bird this month with this colorful Chinese Soup that she cooked up instead of a stir-fry. In addition to baked tofu and noodles, this slightly spicy, sour soup has a healthy dose of veggies such as chard, mushrooms, carrots, asparagus, peppers and peas. This is a nourishing and filling soup anytime of year and can easy be adapted to the seasons. (Melbourne, Australia)

Our next entry is this unique Pumpkin Chili from Ashley who clearly has mastered the method. Consisting of pumpkin, black beans, kidney beans, peppers, tomatoes, and seasoned with some beer, paprika and poppy seeds, this stunning meal in a bowl is sure to warm even the chilliest autumn soul. Serve with some crusty bread for a real feast. (Binghamton, New York, USA)

From Alexa of Artsy-Foodie we have this substantial Miso soup designed to cure all that might ail you. This comforting soup is made up of white miso, broccoli, carrots, green onions, tofu, rice pasta and further flavored with cilantro, ginger, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. (Washington, USA)

Holler, my co-host of No Croutons Required, submits this gorgeous Carrot, Spinach and Lentil Soup. This thick and creamy soup made up of shredded carrots, spinach, lentils, onions, garlic and a hint of lime and cayenne, is an elegant autumn meal solution served along with some crusty bread. (Scotland, United Kingdom)

Arundathi submits a hearty and nourishing Mulligatawny Soup consisting of Moong Dal, apple, coconut, carrot and spiced with garam masala, peppercorns, turmeric, and curry leaves. Mulligatawny, literally meaning pepper water, is an anglicized version of Indian Rasam and is enjoyable and satisfying anytime of year. (India)

Shira of Petit Pois offers up an earthy Eastern European Mushroom and Barley Soup that she describes as a rib liner. The goodness of fresh and dried mushrooms are combined with barley, carrot, celery, onion, rosemary and beer. Serve with bread and cheese for a very satisfying cold weather meal. (France)

Val of More Than Burnt Toast gets creative with a Jamie Oliver recipe and comes up with a spicy Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup that she serves in the pumpkin shell! Perhaps even better than pumpkin pie, this delightful blend of pumpkin puree, hot chillies, garlic, ginger, spices, lime, rice and coconut milk is sure to impress dinner guests. (British Columbia, Canada)

No roundup of hearty soups would be complete without a borscht recipe. Sweatha of Tasty Curry Leaf comes up with a Vegetarian Beet Borscht that includes pasta, along with more traditional ingredients such as beets and potatoes. This wholesome soup is seasoned with dill, cashews, spices and lime. (New Jersey, USA)

Pumpkin is a popular choice for warming soups and our next entry is a Creamy Pumpkin Soup from Lubna of Yummy Food. Worthy of being a staple on any Fall menu, this simple but elegant puree of pumpkin chunks, onion, cream, vegetable stock and pepper is a refreshing and warming choice for a cool autumn day. (Bangalore, India)

Priyasuresh of Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes is up next with this Creamy Cabbage and Barley Soup. A lovely accompaniment to any meal, this blend of cabbage, barley, tomatoes, onion, carrot, and dried basil is not only good for you, but a real tummy warmer. (Paris, France)

From Srivalli of Cooking 4 All Seasons we have another pureed Cabbage Soup. Roasted onions, garlic and cabbage are done in a pressure cooker, grinded together and seasoned with salt and pepper. Srivalli tells us this tasty soup is filling on its own, but suggests serving it with some brown bread which sounds like a fine idea to me. (India)

Mansi of Food and Fun comes up with a rich and creamy Carrot Soup that she was inspired to make after enjoying a bowl at a restaurant. The goodness of carrots are combined with garlic, coconut milk, cloves, lemon juice and whipping cream. A winter warmer indeed! I'll take two bowls please. (California, USA)

Allie of Yum in Tum takes advantage of seasonal produce and comes up with this delightful Pumpkin Ginger Soup. A simple puree of pumpkin, ginger and simple seasonings, this soup is easy and fast to make, meaning you won't have to wait long to linger over a warming bowl. (Houston, Texas, USA)

Tracy of Vanilla Bean Cafe comes up with a curing Spicy Butternut Squash and Apple Soup. Fresh garden squash is here combined with onion, jalapeno pepper, granny smith apples, carrots, whipping cream and temptingly spiced with cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne and garnished with fresh parsley. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

From Saroja of Kitchen-Kollections we have an immunity boosting Celery Soup. This vegetable soup includes celery, carrots, onion, garlic, corn and tomato. Though it is not required, some croutons were added to this nourishing and warming bowl of goodness. (Farmington, Michigan, USA)

Srimathi of Few Minute Wonders whipped up a batch of Spicy Corn Bell Pepper Soup that was gone in 30 minutes. This comforting and nourishing soup brings together the goodness of corn, red pepper, red onion, tomato, green chilies, cilantro, veggie broth and cream. Serve with bread or lavish roll ups for a very satisfying meal. (San Diego , California, USA)

Mahimaa cooks up a Creamy Vegetable Soup in her Indian Vegetarian Kitchen. Cabbage, onion, garlic, corn and carrots are complimented with some beans and milk. Mahimaa served this healthy, pressure cooked soup with some whole grain garlic bread. You can't go wrong with classic veggie soups like this. (Los Angeles, California, USA)

This Sweet Potato Squash Soup with Pinto Beans and Chard is my contribution this month. A good choice for a mid-week meal, delicata squash adds a pleasant sweetness to this hearty bowl of pinto beans, carrots, garlic, onion, tomato and chard. Good for you and tasty too. (London, Ontario, Canada)

Lysy of Munchkin Mail takes advantage of the autumn harvest and comes up with this delightfully thick Roasted and Toasted Squash and Corn Soup. Roasted squash and toasted corn add an extra burst of flavour, which is complimented by some red pepper and leeks, garlic and onion. A very satisfying choice for a chilly evening meal. (Warwickshire, UK)

Ruth of Once Upon a Feast submits a stunning Hodge Podge Bean Soup that she based on an Adzuki Bean Stew she made previously. Starting with a roasted vegetable broth, Ruth added some chickpeas, navy beans, tomato paste and some chipotle in adobo. Some more broth was added to tone down the heat, and finally some adzuki beans. A spice lovers delight, this will warm you on even the coldest of days. (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Hanne who posts at Freshly Made comes up with a Spicy Pumpkin Soup for our event. The goodness of pumpkin comes together nicely with red lentils, garlic, hot chilies and coconut milk. This pretty pureed soup is a perfect autumn treat. (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Chow of Chow Vegan makes a Vegetable Chowder that she serves in mini sourdough bread bowls! Not only do you get to enjoy this blend of onion, leek, carrot, red potatoes, soy milk, garlic, and shiitake mushrooms, you get to eat the bowl too. This inspired creation is a good choice if you want to impress dinner guests. (San Francisco Bay Area, USA)

Nina of Miss.Adventure @ Home makes Pasta E Fagioli. This cold weather vegetarian favorite is made using homemade vegetable stock, pasta, black-eyed peas, carrots, celery, zucchini, tomatoes, dried herbs, green beans, swiss chard, lima beans and a bit of Parmesan cheese. This is clearly a feast in a bowl! (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)

Rita from Pink Bites offers up an exquisite French Onion Soup that is sure to appeal to even the most staunch carnivores. Layered with flavor, Rita's version is made with yellow onions, fresh thyme, garlic, white wine, veggie broth, day old bread and Gruyere cheese. This is sure to warm even the coldest tummy. (Seattle, Washington, USA)

Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen makes a vegetarian version of a popular Portuguese creation named Sopa de Feijao Branca e Legumes (Black Eyed Bean and Vegetable Soup). The veggie power of potatoes, onion, carrots and cabbage meets tomato paste, black eye beans, chili powder and marinara sauce. Serve with dinner rolls for a truly comforting dining experience. (Goa, India)

Divya of Dil Se takes advantage of the abundance of pumpkins and enters the fray with this lovely Pumpkin-Zucchini Spaghetti Soup. Pumpkin, zucchini, spaghetti, and carrot are seasoned with garlic, ginger, chili powder, cumin, dried herbs, red wine vinegar and some fresh parsley. This creamy, elegant soup was served with some breadsticks. (Los Angeles, California, USA)

Rachel of The Crispy Cook comes up with an economically satisfying Autumnal Peasant Soup. This hearty vegetarian pottage brings lentils, celery, carrots, potatoes, cabbage and tomatoes together with onion, garlic and dried herbs. A tasty choice for a frosty autumn evening. (Saratoga County, New York, USA)

From Rupa of A Virtual Vegetarian we have this flavored filled Mexican Pozole Rojo de Jalisco. Made with hominy, a white corn kernel that has been slaked in a lime solution, along with tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, onion, tortillas, ancho chilies, garlic, and cilantro, this colourful soup is garnished with red onion, radish, cabbage, sour cream, tortilla chips and lime. A multiplicity of textures and tastes come together in this most satisfying one bowl meal. (Northern California, USA)

And last, but not least, Kim of Live :: Love :: Laugh :: Eat! submits this tempting Split Pea Soup that is a twist on an old classic. Dried split peas, a chipotle chile in adobo sauce, carrots, broth and miso paste are tossed into a slow cooker. The finished result is garnished with bits of green onion. Easy, tasty and satisfying! (Portsmouth, Virginia, USA)

Holler will be hosting the November Edition of No Croutons Required. Check back at the end of the month for the theme and the winner of this month's hearty soup challenge.