Unlock the hearty and comforting world of soups and stews with this encyclopedic cookbook.
This cookbook offers an extensive collection of 300+ nourishing recipes for every season. Dive into a rich tapestry of flavors, from classic favorites like French onion soup and beef stew to exciting new twists with spicy ramen bowls and creamy chowders. Perfect for both culinary novices and experienced chefs, these recipes come with easy-to-follow instructions and expert tips to ensure success in every bowl.
Inside you'll
Over 300 recipes for soups and stews that span the globeGorgeous full-color photographs to inspire your culinary creationsTechniques for elevating your soups and stews to new levels of deliciousnessWhether you're preparing a cozy weeknight dinner or a celebratory feast, this book will be your go-to guide for crafting meals that bring people together. Embrace the warmth and satisfaction of creating soul-soothing dishes with every recipe.
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews is a chunky book filled with over 300 different soup and stew recipes for hearty eaters. This is a great book for any soup and stew lover, and with autumn and winter fast approaching, it's definitely one to check out. The recipes and instructions all fill one page for each recipe and every (approx) 4-5 pages, there's a photograph page of one dish. I know this is an encyclopedia type recipe book, but I do wish there had been more photographs included, even just a small one on each page to show what the dish looks like. This is quite important to me with recipe books. The instructions seem easy to follow, and there are some very tasty sounding dishes listed. Reading the netgalley widget, there were many pages I couldn't read due to the font going very strange and unreadable, so I did miss maybe 40 dishes from the book.
This Cookbook is Perfect as I am looking to Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen. The 300 Soups and Stews all sound delicious. I like the way the Cookbook is broken down into Sections: My favorites are 1. Pasta, Noodles, and Dumplings 2. Legumes, Nuts, and Grains 3. Poultry 4. Pork and 5. Chilled & Dessert Soups. So, there is something for everyone here. There are different uses from other Countries, as well as more Standard US Recipes. I think most people enjoy Homemade Soup or a Hearty Stew and these will make Excellent Recipes. Soups and Stews are Not only Delicious, but Healthy as Well. I am Excited to try many of the Recipes. They are Simple Enough for a New Cook or Will Work for a more Seasoned Cook.
Thank You NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for a copy of this Book. I always leave reviews of Books I Read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
This is an amazing cookbook filled with so many amazing recipes. There are tons of different soups and stews that I love ❤️ but just haven't made for years. Some that I have had at restaurants but never taken the time to find recipes to try to make myself. I am excited to try the broccoli cheddar soup. 😋 I have tried several different recipes of that in the past and still haven't found one that is quite right, so am hoping this will be the one!
✴︎ 5, why am I the only person in my house who loves soup, stars ✴︎
Soups, soups, and more soups. 🥹 This might be one of my favorite cook books ever. The recipes are structured, clear, and easy to understand. The pictures feel pretty accurate for what the recipe should look like. And most importantly, this liquid goddess has range. Think of a soup/bisque/chowder/noodle~ish type and it’s in here. You’re craving dumplings? Done. Crab and avocado chilled soup? Didn’t know that was a thing, but I’ll be trying next. Wednesday’s vegetarian night? Don’t you worry one bit, little veggie friends.
If you love soup, then you’ll love this. My husband has banned me from buying more books…until I finish organizing our home office/library. I’m a chronic procrastinator, and there’s always something else more fun to do. When I tell you I’m actively shelving books right now, I mean it lol (alphabetically, because when I stop procrastinating I do shit right).
My only critique is that I wish there were more pictures. When this says ‘encyclopedia’ it means it. I’m not irked, because this book is dense with recipes, but I can see this potentially bothering others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for this arc!
I'm not the world's best cook but one of the few things I consistently feel confident making in the kitchen is various soups. I have a small amount of staples in rotation but am always looking to try new soups. I'm recovering from a cold and feeling even more in the soup mood than usual so was excited for the opportunity to read an eArc of the Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews.
The organization by category is helpful and each soup in order keeps to not only the overall theme of the chapter but is similar to the soups immediately surrounding it. I've come across recipes and thought "this doesn't quite sound good to me" then flipped the page to see a nearby soup with a similar core ingredient that sounded delicious. Some suggestions are a bit far fetched, such as the mention of investing in a chest freezer in order to batch cook with the intent of leftovers, or have ingredients that may not be easily found in all areas (like Elk, squab or galangal) without suggested substitutions. There were a lot of staple soups I've been meaning to try alongside many more I've never heard of. Sometimes recipes even include small sides, like the spicy bean sprout salad that pairs with the book's Miso Ramen (I can't wait to try this one!).
Each recipe provides approximate servings, total time and active time needed to prepare each dish. Some of these are quick and easy while others are more involved, needing overnight prep or multiple blending and straining sessions to achieve the final product. There are a couple items missing I've found handy in prior cookbooks though neither is a dealbreaker from using this cookbook. Having a section that highlights kitchen tools you may be that aren't standard to every soup, such as a blender, strainer, sheet pan, etc. would be useful in order to quickly see at a glance what tools are needed rather than reading through the full recipe steps when you're in a hurry deciding your meal for the evening. Another thing missing is nutrition information for each recipe. It would be handy to know a rough estimate of common nutritional factors folks with dietary restrictions may be focusing on such as calories, sugar content or cholesterol content.
Overall, a winner of a cookbook that I'm already planning to shopping list based on.
Some notable recipes I'd not heard of that I can't wait to try first: - Lasagna Soup - Chickpea and Pasta Soup - Canh Bap Cai Cuon - Walnut Soup with Chive & Shallot Oil - Mansaf - Lamb Sharba - Doenjang Jjigae - Tanuki Jiru
Thanks to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for providing an eArc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was as intensive of a cookbook as you can get, with soups of ALL kinds, even dessert soups! I am in awe at the variety and sheer number of recipes here, even though some of them have ingredients that I would be hard pressed to find (where the fuck am I going to get elk meat?). The macaroni and cheese soup made me laugh out loud in delight because who thinks of making that into a soup? I want to try it!!
I wish a little more information about possible substitutions for uncommon ingredients (again, I cannot get elk meat in rural Georgia lol) and more information about the culture each soup comes from. I recognized some soups from Asian and European cultures, but I wish I knew specifically what country each soup originated in. I guess it's nice for once to not be inundated with irrelevant information like the author's stories about making this recipe or that one with their grandma for the first time, but SOME intro to each recipe would have been nice and helpful.
There is nothing more hearty or comforting than a good bowl of soup. I was so excited to get a copy of this book and it didn’t disappoint. There are so many different varieties to browse through. As other people mentioned, the white text on some pages was difficult to read, but overall it is a fantastic cookbook. I already made the lasagna soup tonight and it was delicious! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
This is one that I’m going to be requesting for Christmas to have on my cookbook shelf. I am a lover of all things soup, and this collection is extremely thorough with suggestions of soup that I’ve never even heard of before. One day, I’d like to try to try out a good half of these recipes.
I don’t really have much to say. I love that there are many versions of chili and chowder. At this point, I’m confident in my ability to make a chili, but I’m trying to get to a point where I can make a good chowder. All of these recipes seem to be a good starting point that I can then adjust as needed.
Some of the recipes that I’m going to have to try first are the ham and greens soup, the lasagna soup, and the haddock chowder. Everything sounded amazing, and the only flaw in this book is that I’m going to be craving soup all day. (Good thing I have some chicken and dumplings in the crockpot as we speak!)
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews is a beautiful compendium of 300+ soups and stews for any time or season, though for me soups and stews often signal autumn and winter. However, as a cook who forages seasonally, there is no lack of spring and summer inspiration. I am fortunate to live part time in the Mediterranean where abundant fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, mushrooms, truffles, honey, and olive oil to name a few are easily found out my front door. But one can obtain many ingredients in local shops or markets, too. Substitutes and adaptations are usually simple to make. I have celiac disease and though some ingredients are full of gluten, I find workarounds. The same can be said for other dietary restrictions, too.
A very brief mention of the culture of various kinds of soups is included at the front but the rest is page after page of unctuous photography and mouthwatering recipes, those we know and love such as Avgolemono and Tomato Alphabet Soup, as well as some which may be new to us such as Macaroni & Cheese Soup. and Chicken Parm Soup. There are hot and spicy soups, brothy soups, creamy soups, traditional soups from various cultures, and cold soups. Some evoke nostalgia to me as a little girl who grew up cooking from the age of six. Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese Dumplings was one of my favourite to make. There are wild game soups (I grew up in hunting country so our table was always full of game dishes but I didn't make Elk Soup with Gnocchi...shame).
One of my favourite spring soups is Spring Pea Soup with Lemon Ricotta and the version here looks wonderful. But what I really anticipate is Asparagus & Pea Soup for which I will use wild asparagus from one of my forages. Another recipe I am keen to make is Celeriac & Truffle Soup as I live in white and black truffle zone so will use fresh truffles rather than oil. My rendition of Forest Mushroom Soup is a staple at my house but this recipe includes an ingredient I had overlooked. Potato & Leek Soup is on the roster at least monthly so I tried this version including sherry vinegar which elevated it beautifully.. So many recipes and ideas to choose from. The Oaxacan Black Bean Soup, Walnut Soup with Chive & Shallot Oil, Guinea Hen & Roasted Grape Stew (when we have too many grapes!),Coconut & Chicken Curry Soup, Swedish Meatball Soup, Sunchoke & Scallop Soup (both in abundance in my area), and Sour Cherry Soup (chilled) look delicious, too. There is a section at the back of the book including recipes for oils, sauces, preserved limes, and other treats.
I predict a vigorous soup and stew winter ahead! What is more comfy and homey? Any cook of any skill level will find something to enjoy here. A few ingredients may be daunting or difficult to find but this is one of those books in which 92% of the recipes scream out, rather than about four in some other books.
Hmmm… Don't come here for too much of the stews – this is mostly the soup side of things. And (after an introduction that says pretty much anything can be thrown at a pot and become soup) soups are what we get, from a cheat's pho to something with elk meat, from butternut squash and cider to onion and white port, and from goose, dates and nuts soup to baked potato soup.
I'll ignore the fact a lot of these pages are presented as white text on a coloured background that includes bisque, making that practically unreadable. That may be exclusive to the reviewers' files. But I think this is too basic and mediocre a presentation without that. You get the name of the dish, and no explanation should it happen to not be in English, the ingredients and a sparse instruction. Nothing else. About one in five or six get a photo – and about one in five or six of those are practically of the side of the bowl, and not its contents, meaning you get much less understanding of the required result than you should.
And, as usual with this publisher, a lot of the recipes tell you to go and include something for which the recipe is hundreds of pages away (I know, stocks cannot be replicated every darned time they get called for, but something here is relevant to one dish, and is two ingredients – just put them together and don't be so cussedly annoying). Chilled soups like vichyssoise just turn up in the middle of nowhere when they're supposed to be in their own chapter.
Here then is a cookbook that probably provides recipes for several hundred things I'd really like – and yet I didn't like it itself. There's no separation by seasons, or indeed anything, so the random parade of dishes with no connection becomes something surprising to browse but less sensible for the cook. A lot of these soups are things I'd always be lacking one or two ingredients for, and there's no way of knowing if I'd really miss them – but inspiration will be pointless with a kitchen missing the key bits.
All told, a great database of ideas for an experienced chef with a well-stocked larder (first catch your burdock root…), and a book that could influence you to greater knowledge of what goes with what. But also something presented to me with much less care to attention than needed, and in much less friendly manner. It does indeed prove you can make a soup out of everything, as almost everything gets its moment here, but the key ingredient lacking is professionalism. A grudging three stars for the scope of it all.
Book Review: The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews by The Coastal Kitchen
Rating: 3.5 Stars
As a self-proclaimed soup enthusiast, I was excited to dive into The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews, a hefty tome boasting over 300 recipes designed to satisfy every craving and season. This cookbook truly lives up to its name, offering a comprehensive and comforting collection that spans classic staples like French onion soup and beef stew, as well as more adventurous options such as spicy ramen bowls and creamy chowders.
What I really appreciate about this book is how approachable it is for cooks of all skill levels. Each recipe is neatly contained on a single page, with clear instructions and some handy tips to make sure your dish turns out just right. The diversity of recipes means there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a cozy weeknight meal or something a bit more celebratory to share with family and friends.
The layout is practical and straightforward, though I do wish there were more photographs sprinkled throughout. While the occasional full-color photo is beautiful and inspiring, they appear only every few pages, which feels a bit sparse for such a large collection. Still, the images included are vibrant and make you want to jump right into the kitchen.
Overall, this book is a fantastic resource for anyone who loves hearty, soul-warming dishes. With autumn and winter on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a bowl of something delicious from this encyclopedia. I’m giving it 3.5 stars because while it’s an excellent recipe source with lots of variety and easy-to-follow guidance, a few more photos would have made the experience even better. Still, The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews is definitely worth adding to your cookbook shelf if you enjoy comforting, flavorful meals made from scratch.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews by The Coastal Kitchen
There’s nothing quite like ending a busy winter day with a steaming, hearty bowl of soup—and this cookbook delivers that comfort in abundance. The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews is an impressive collection of over 300 recipes that span every season and every corner of the globe.
From timeless classics like beef stew to adventurous new favorites such as Cincinnati chili and chicken & shrimp gumbo, this book is a treasure trove of flavor. What makes it even more exciting is the variety—recipes aren’t limited to cold-weather fare but include vibrant dishes perfect for spring, summer, and fall.
✨ What I loved most: - The sheer number of recipes (300+) ensures there’s always something new to try. - The global inspiration makes cooking feel like a family adventure. - Gorgeous full-color photographs that practically make your mouth water. - Clear, detailed directions and complete ingredient lists—perfect for both beginners and seasoned cooks. - A wonderful way to bring the family together in the kitchen.
Our family had fun rediscovering old favorites like chicken & dumplings while also adding new dishes to our rotation. The Cincinnati chili was a hit, and the gumbo brought a cozy, celebratory feel to our table.
This book isn’t just a cookbook—it’s a guide to creating soul-soothing meals that connect people. It’s a perfect addition to any cooking collection, and I can’t wait to share it with my mom and friends. Truly, it makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves food, family, and the joy of cooking.
The book stood out to me given fall is quickly approaching. This book is jam packed with interesting recipes, enough to keep you warm for many cold nights.
Some recipes sound absolutely delicious, some wouldn't be to my taste. From my point of view there are quite a few recipes that I would likely never make but that could just be personal taste. I do find some recipes have an extensive list of ingredients that might not necessarily be available. For someone with less experience in cooking that might deter them from continuing with preparing that particular recipe. For me an encyclopaedia would start at the basics and progress into more advanced techniques and recipes.
The recipes themselves are well structured and mostly easy to read (except for a few early light coloured pages with white text which is impossible to read). It is difficult to know what the final result should look like, pictures show the reader if they are on the right track with their efforts. I think a even small addition (maybe polaroid style) at the bottom of each recipe would really help. Perhaps also a brief description of some of the soup names would be helpful for those recipe titles that are in other languages.
All in all I am excited to continue cooking these recipes, some adaptions may be made for ingredients not available to me.
Thanks for the early edition arc NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
˚.༄ Thank you NetGalley and the publishing team for the provided eARC in exchange for an honest review! 💌 ꒷·˚ ༘
3.75 ⭐️
This recipe book contains over 300 hearty recipes for stew and soup lovers and with fall and winter approaching, this is definitely a nice recipe book to have!
In the beginning you get a nice overview of how to store soup correctly and different types of soups (such as consommé or puréed soups), which can be really helpful.
The book contains a lot of different recipes, even some dessert soups. Each recipe states how many servings you get and apart from the active time, there is also a total time listed, which I really appreciate in cooking books! Sometimes a recipe tells you it’s done in 30 minutes but e.g. leaves out the time you need to prepare or chill something.
The instructions are clear and easy to follow and the design is really pretty and simple, but sometimes there was white font on a beige background and that wasn’t easy to read (maybe that was a problem with the eARC only, though!). I do wish that there were more pictures with the recipes, because I like to see what a dish looks like before I get to cooking. That always helps me to decide if I want to cook it or not. The pictures that were in the book were really good quality wise, though sometimes a bit too zoomed in or out.
All in all a really nice book for hearty recipes that I’ll love having in the fall time!
The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews has over 300 recipes for every season; a guaranteed win for anyone and everyone. I love all the little details, like all the little bowls represented on the cover and tips, nuggets, and tricks that are shared along the way. The content is extensive, inclusive, and covers all the bases that the average cook would be looking for or willing to try. Meat, vegetables, seafood, grains, savory, sweet, hot, cold, you name it, it is covered. You can use it topically and just search for recipes based on ingredients, or a preferred method, just savor it all from start to finish. There is so much wisdom and experience to be gleaned in addition to the inspiration and representation from multiple cultures. The appendix has a lot of nice extras as well; all the complimentary things to soup like croutons, breads, sauces to drizzle, embellishments, etc.… The pictures are delightful and certainly helped kickstart my desire to get into my own kitchen and try something new. I just wish there could be a picture for all of them but understand that logistically this would not be feasible for a book this size. I will be experimenting from this collection for some time, and I am looking forward to it!! Cider Mill Press has outdone themselves on this collection! I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
A book of recipes that feel right for this time of year, soup and stews. Some photos, not on every page. Formatting issue, hopefully corrected before publication some pages one print on yellow. The recipes cover a wide variety of cultures and countries, written from an American perspective. I think they would have made it more appealing to some if the vegetarian soups were separate from the meat ones and if those that don’t need meat have veggie stock instead of chicken stock. It’s not a hard thing to tweak and I think vegetarians would prefer it, looking for a recipe then coming across a meat focused one with a photo could be jarring. The book is split into subjects and, my favourite part, has additions you can easily make to make your soups and stews more tasty. I so mess up these types of recipes adding random items or not measuring accurately enough. I think anyone should be able to find a few new favourites here. There are plenty I could cook straight out of my store cupboard and fridge which is helpful. I have tried the African peanut soup, which had a beautiful photo, I did miss okra out and it was still amazing so it’s not totally broken my bad habits!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion
This is a pretty classic cookbook, with a wide selection of soups and stews. The introduction was useful. I learned a thing or two about how to properly store and reheat my soup.
Now, why only 3 stars? Please note that I am reviewing an ARC and the editor might fix those issues in the definitive copy.
1. The recipes themselves are pretty good and straightforward. The instructions are not very detailed, so you already need to be a good cook. Nothing wrong with that, but it might disappoint some readers.
2. The order of the recipes can feel very random. There are broad sections (vegetable soups, stews...) but you will alternate between Asian recipes, Italian recipes, French recipes etc... with no transition. Why not have sub-themes, at least geographically?
3. There is no individual introduction to the recipes. While I don't enjoy cookbooks that have more chatter than actual cooking, this is a bit extreme. I feel like some soups deserve context. Since most recipes do not fill the whole page, the editors could add a few lines to explain where the soup is from, and when it is usually made.
All in all, pretty good recipes that deserve more photos and context.
Thank you NetGalley, The Cider Mill Press and The Coastal Kitchen for the ARC.
"This cookbook offers an extensive collection of 300+ nourishing recipes for every season. Dive into a rich tapestry of flavors, from classic favorites like French onion soup and beef stew to exciting new twists with spicy ramen bowls and creamy chowders. Perfect for both culinary novices and experienced chefs, these recipes come with easy-to-follow instructions and expert tips to ensure success in every bowl"
I do love a good soup. This is a great book that introduces all sorts of different soups and stews for all kitchen experience levels. Cold soups, bisques, ramen, and other yummy goodness awaits inside. There definitely could have been more photographs in the book though. The photos present are lovely, though. I'd love to try the coconut & spinach soup, cashew soup, avikas, and the haddock chowder. Yum!
I received a free ebook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This book is for all the soup lovers out there! (Me. I am the soup lover.)
The organization is both beautiful and functional, with soups categorized by their primary ingredient (pasta, vegetable, chicken, pork, seafood, etc.), and each section marked with a different color. I was especially excited by the inclusion of a dessert soups section, something I hadn’t encountered before, and the appendix of accompaniments.
While visually striking, I do wish it included more photographs. Yes, it’s a book about soups and I should already have a general sense of the end product, but visuals are always helpful (and enticing!).
Unlike many cookbooks, this one doesn’t include stories or personal touches with each recipe, but honestly, I didn’t miss them. It’s straightforward and practical.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for this advanced copy. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
If you like soup, this book is for you. I did not realize how many different types of soup there is out there. I so appreciated the way the book was laid out so that you could page to the section you want and explore within the section. One thing that I wondered about is by calling for a meat based stock for most of the vegetable based soups. It is easy enough to swap out for the veggie stock if you wanted to make it vegan of vegetarian. I also noticed that I was surprised by the amount of soups within the vegetable section that called for it to be pureed at the end. I will chalk this up to the fact that I grew up in a house that never did soups that were pureed, so I was struck by how many recipes integrated that type of preparation. I think this cookbook would be a great housewarming gift for someone who likes soups and eats meat.
Publishing date: 11.11.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY) Thank you to Cider Mill Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
This was a sweet book that delivers exactly on what it sells you. A bunch of recipes for soups and stews and everything between.
The recipes are varied, easy to follow, and detailed. There is something for everyone here. Some of the soups also have a photo of the final product and they are mouth watering.
The book is also separated into sections for different categories of soup. Vegetables, meat, lentils ... you name it. You will also find some history for soups and stews here, but it isn't the focus.
I will say this is the perfect gift for someone who may have recieved an immersion blender for christmas (myself included) and needs ideas for what to use it on. Also any soup lovers will enjoy this.
Giving this 4 stars. It does what it needs to do, but I would love some more history behind the food so many of us love.
Do you love soups? How about stews? This is a marvelous book! You’ll want to look at this one. Jammed full of over 300 recipes from all over the world. I started salivating as soon as I started to read through the recipes. And I found over 20 recipes that I want to make “right away,” with others that will also be on the must try list.
Recipes are from all over the world and certainly something for every person’s taste. There are over 20 recipes just in the Stock chapter. There are beautifully appetizing photographs, but most of the book is recipe after recipe.
There are so many interesting soups, I can’t wait to get started.
The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews is a well thought out collection of recipes for over 300 soups & stews. I consider myself a newbie when it comes to soups and stews. Up until recently I semi-avoided them, not loving the versions I had during childhood.
I found the introduction informative and the breakdown by types of soups/stews easy to navigate. The instructions are concise and look easy to follow. I like that each recipe includes the serving size and the active and total time to prepare. I do wish there was a calorie per serving estimation but maybe you just want to enjoy these tasty recipes without thinking about calories!
I like the images, they are cozy and real. I do wish there were more though.
Thank you to NetGalley & Cider Mill Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely loved The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews! 🍲 This book has over 300 recipes, and I’ve already bookmarked half a dozen that I can’t wait to try. I love how it covers everything from cozy, classic chowders to flavorful international soups and hearty stews—you can really feel the warmth and comfort in every page.
The instructions are super clear, so even tricky recipes feel doable, and I appreciate how organized the book is by ingredients and types of dishes. I do wish there were more photos for each recipe, but the ones included are gorgeous and inspiring.
Whether you’re a beginner like me or a seasoned cook, this book makes it easy to explore new flavors while still getting that cozy, home-cooked feeling. It’s now one of my go-to kitchen companions, and I can see myself using it all year round! 🥣✨
Well, it didn't call itself an encyclopedia for nothing!
It has got everything in this book. It's got soups you wouldn't even dream up. (Such as, a lettuce soup. That one still makes the eyebrow go up.) Everything is broken out by type of soup, which makes it easy to find what you're craving at the time.
I will admit this book wavers between novelty and practical for me. I don't think I'm ever going to make all 300 soups, but I bet there's someone on the internet needing to come up with a blog idea who will. There are a few recipe I'll try out just for the novelty of it, but I mostly like this cookbook because who doesn't get tired of scrolling through the internet for a basic beef stew recipe. Here it's just a flip away and will also have some variations you can easily find as well.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is the perfect cookbook to use heading into the colder months and I am so glad I got it going into Autumn so I’ll be well prepared for winter. The photography is beautiful and makes the dishes look so appetising. I liked that there were many different countries and cultures included such as Borscht as I love trying food from around the world and it’s all in one handy book rather than having sections in lots of books annotated and clogging up my kitchen counter. However, the beige and white text used kinda like a highlight in the ‘Pasta, Noodles and Dumplings’ chapter was unreadable which likely makes it inaccessible to many.
There is a soup recipe for everyone. Plenty of colorful pictures to get those taste buds moving.
The book is divided into the following chapters: Pasta, Noodles, & Dumplings, Vegetables, Legumes, Nuts, & Grains, Beef, Lamb, & Mutton, Poultry, Pork, Seafood, Chilled & Dessert Soups, and Stocks. Each recipe includes servings, active time, total time, ingredient list, and instructions.
I like to make a recipe from a cookbook I’m reviewing, so I made the Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese Dumplings. Instructions were excellent, soup was easy to make, and the flavor was fantastic. It was all about those dumplings.
If you love soup, this cookbook is for you.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
The Encyclopedia of Soups and Stews has over 300 recipes. Every soup or stew you have ever heard of, and many that you haven’t, grace these pages.
About 25% of the recipes have pictures. Unfortunately, none have nutritional information or allergen warnings. Even though the book states it is for all experience levels, I think you would need to be at least an intermediate level to use most of the recipes. The recipes sound tasty but do have many ingredients. Some are quite pricey too. Still, if you already a good cook just wanting to expand your repertoire, this cookbook would be an excellent resource. 4 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.
In my opinion, soups and stews are the perfect meal, no matter the season. I love a good vegetable soup in the summer, using the abundance of fresh produce that can be cheaply found and turned into an amazing meal. So, when I saw this cookbook, I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough. And it did not disappoint!
Page after page of great recipes. Some you will know and frequently make. Others will be new and inspire you to try something different.
My biggest complaint-there is not a photo for every recipe. I believe that the sign of a good cookbook, and one I will frequently reach for and keep on my shelf, must have photos to accompany every recipe.
Thank you, Cider Mill Press and Netgalley, for the e-ARC
I am all about soups and it's almost fall. Well, technically it is, but it's still so hot. I LOVE soups/stews and have a lot of recipes. I saw this and a read now and had to give it a try. There are so many soups in this book and it's amazing. The problem for me, was that I prefer pictures. There were very minimal photos go to with the recipes. Secondly, this was a very fancy book. I don't have time to add all the extra steps and so my soup wouldn't look anything like it. These are just small grievances. I do admire the fact that this book as such variety! It was so cool to even see Cincinnati Chili in it!!