Amp up your dinner with an exotic starter! From masala to curry to paneer, there are many Indian soup recipes that are guaranteed to start your meal with a bang.
Indian cuisine is famed for its thick, buttery, and creamy stews infused with warming spices. Not only are they full of flavor, but of bright colors as well.
What a spoonful of joy, indeed!
They might seem intimidating to make, but with these simple recipes, you’ll be able to pull them off with ease.
Want to bring the flavors of India to your home? These Indian soup recipes are all you’ll need.
1. Palak Soup
Palak soup is a vegetarian soup primarily made of spinach. If you think it’s bland, think again. This soup is bursting with flavor!
The key is to combine spinach and heavy cream and thicken it with sweet gram flour.
A dash of pepper gives the soup a touch of spice, giving you comfort in each spoonful.
Served hot, it’s the perfect way to warm you up on a cold wintery evening. It’s Indian comfort food that’s good for you at the same time.
2. Mulligatawny Soup
Mulligatawny soup is a curry and coconut-based soup loaded with lentils, carrots, and apples.
It seems like an odd combination, but the flavors work really well together.
While it’s technically a soup, it’s so thick and creamy that we might as well call it a stew.
Apart from the above ingredients, it also contains jalapenos, ginger, garlic, onions, and other spices to add heat and flavor.
It’s so rich and comforting, you won’t be able to stop at one serving. That said, I highly suggest you double the recipe. This soup will be gone in minutes.
3. Indian Tomato Soup
Indian tomato soup is a lot similar to regular tomato soup, but infused with a ton of Indian spices.
The result is a combination of warming and refreshing flavors guaranteed to tickle your taste buds.
Sure, it’s not an authentic Indian soup, and many purists would frown upon it, but it only takes one spoonful for you to change your mind.
The addition of turmeric, cayenne, ginger, and garam masala to tomato soup gives it such a wonderfully unique flavor.
Authentic or not, one thing’s for sure: this soup is the perfect way to start any meal.
4. Garam Masala Carrot Soup
Carrot soup with a fun Indian twist: that’s what this recipe is all about. Coconut milk plus Indian spices transform the soup from basic to brilliant.
Here’s a breakdown of what goes on in this soup: first up are roasted carrots and onions with a deep, caramelized flavor.
These veggies are then flavored with a blend of garam masala, cayenne pepper, coconut oil, and salt.
Finally, all that goodness is pureed with thick and creamy coconut milk and a splash of lime juice.
Together, they create the perfect harmony of flavors. It’s vegan, to boot!
5. Indian Lentil Soup
Dal shorva is a thick and creamy soup made with lentils.
Infused with a blend of turmeric, cumin, garam masala, chili, coriander, and mustard seeds, this soup is brimming with cozy, warming flavors.
It’s so good, it can rival any you’ve had in an authentic Indian restaurant. It’s much cheaper, too!
Pair this lentil soup with a side of garlic naan, and you’ll have a hearty meal.
6. Indian Chickpea Soup
Chickpeas are a common ingredient in Indian cooking. These affordable legumes are used to make rice, bread, and in this case, soup.
Chickpea soup is a thick and creamy soup made with the most basic pantry ingredients.
In fact, I’m pretty sure you already have them on hand – chickpeas, lemon, ginger, turmeric, and cumin.
The combination of creamy chickpeas and warming spices give the soup a wonderful balance of flavors. It’s so good, one bowl won’t be enough.
7. Paneer Soup
Paneer soup is another popular Indian dish that’s wonderfully creamy with a bit of a kick.
Paneer is an Indian soft cheese created by curdling milk with a fruit or vegetable-based acid.
This soup is loaded with it and is flavored with garlic, mustard seeds, ginger, curry, and coconut.
Aside from being super delicious, paneer soup is also 100% vegan. It’s clear proof that healthy things can taste great, too.
8. Chicken Tikka Masala Soup
Chicken tikka masala is a rich and spicy dish that features chicken in a curry sauce.
In this recipe, the classic Indian dish transforms into a creamy soup.
Aside from being extra tasty, chicken tikka masala soup is also a smart way of fleshing out your meal. What was originally a meal for two can now serve four!
Serve this insanely rich and flavorful soup with a piece or two of garlic naan for a satisfying Indian meal.
9. Indian Cream of Mushroom Soup
Cream of mushroom soup is not inherently Indian, but this recipe turns it into an Indian recipe.
This soup is insanely creamy and packed with umami goodness.
With the addition of Indian bay leaf (tejpatta) and nutmeg, it’s also brimming with wonderful Indian flavors.
Whether you serve this soup with a crisp bruschetta, hearty pasta, or a light salad, you’re sure to have a wonderful meal.
10. Hot and Sour Soup
Hot and sour soup is a fantastic mash-up of Indian and Chinese cuisine. Spicy, hot, and sour: you’ll get all these amazing flavors in one spoonful, and it is beautiful.
The spicy element comes from chilies or black pepper, while it gets its acidity from the vinegar.
Vegetables such as bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and sprouts give it interesting textures.
When combined, each element creates a stunning soup appetizer that also happens to be vegan.
11. Indian Spiced Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin soup is such a beloved autumn treat, but I bet you’ll love it even more if you infuse it with more spices.
There’s nothing like a warm bowl of pumpkin soup to warm you on a rainy night.
Sure, it’s already cozy and comforting, but you can even kick it up a notch by infusing more spices.
I’m talking cumin, paprika, ginger, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala.
It may seem like a lot, but these spices complement roasted pumpkin wonderfully well.
Serve it with naan for a wonderful fusion of American and Indian flavors.
12. Tomato Lime Indian Soup
Tomato lime is a simple yet spectacular soup recipe that will blow away your taste buds.
Tomatoes and lime in a creamy broth – the combination may sound peculiar, but the flavors really work.
Adding extra flavor are cumin, cardamom, garlic, and onion to give it an Indian flair.
Serve this refreshing soup with crackers, and you’ll have a delicious, not to mention healthy, appetizer.
13. Curried Cauliflower Soup
Vegan friends, rejoice! I have another soup that will suit your diet and excite your palate.
This curried cauliflower soup is brimming with cauliflower florets and apples. It’s a combination you won’t see often, and it’s definitely a must-try.
The soup has coconut milk and curry at its base, and is infused with Indian spices, lime, and ginger.
It’s already delicious as it is, but you can make it even more extra by topping it with toasted coconut flakes.
What an interesting combination of flavors! It’s so good, you won’t even miss the meat.
14. Vegetable Soup
This vegetable soup is not only vegan but also insanely delicious. And easy to make, to boot! This recipe is a definite keeper, even if you’re not vegan.
The great thing about this soup is that it’s versatile. You can use whatever vegetables you have in the fridge, and it will still taste awesome.
You can also use your choice of spices, so feel free to experiment!
Best of all, it only takes 20 minutes to cook, making it a perfect starter for busy weeknights. Pair it with a simple sandwich and dinner is served.
15. Manchow Soup
Manchow soup is a vegan dish that’s loaded with flavor. It’s bursting with vegetables and brimming with spicy Indian flavors.
The soup base is a combination of vegetable stock, Indian spices, soy sauce, and vinegar. Talk about Indo-Chinese flavors!
It’s also filled with mushrooms, beans, carrots, cabbage, bell peppers. It’s fully loaded, indeed.
You can serve the soup as is or make it even more hearty by adding cooked noodles. It’s heavenly, regardless.
16. Indian Butternut Squash Curry Soup
It’s creamy, earthy, and comforting all at the same time.
This butternut squash curry soup is the Indian-American appetizer you never thought you needed.
It’s full of butternut squash, carrots, curry, and other Indian spices.
If you’re looking for a way to make your kitchen smell like heaven, this recipe is all you’ll need.
Seriously, guys, once you’ve tried this soup, you’ll want to eat it again and again. And again.
That’s just how good it is. It’s literally happiness in a bowl.
17. Noodle Soup with Mixed Vegetables
Unlike most recipes featured in this list, this noodle soup has a clear broth. But that doesn’t mean it’s not packed with flavor.
This noodle soup has a wonderful umami flavor with a tangy undertone. It’s another Indo-Chinese fusion that your American heart will love.
Loaded with mushrooms, bok choy, green beans, cabbage, corn, and more, this soup is jam-packed with flavor and texture.
The added noodles make it a hearty, stand-alone dish. Yum.
18. Aloo Curry (Indian Potato Soup)
Aloo curry is a curry-based potato soup that’s ridiculously addictive.
You may be surprised at how a simple combination of potatoes, curry, and Indian spices can make the most sinful soup!
It’s so incredibly rich, creamy, and hearty that you might end up eating this appetizer as your main meal.
18 Easy Indian Soups
These Indian soup recipes will kick off your meal with a bang! From broth-based soups to creamy soups to soups full of spice, get a true taste of India with these easy dishes.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep an Indian soup in 30 minutes or less!
