5 Vegan Soups to Keep You Warm
In New York, we’re all preparing for the big blizzard expected to hit tomorrow. Grocery stores are busy, sidewalks are buzzing with last-minute errands, and there’s a collective instinct to stock up, stay in, and settle down. When the wind starts howling and the snow piles high against the windows, there’s only one thing on my mind: a simmering pot on the stove and a perfect bowl of warmth and comfort in my hands.
Blizzard cooking is its own ritual. It’s about nourishment, yes — but it’s also about rhythm. Chopping vegetables slowly. Stirring broth while the sky turns silver. Letting aromas fill the kitchen as the world outside goes still. Vegan soups are especially powerful in this moment. They’re hearty without heaviness, vibrant even on gray days, and deeply satisfying in a way that feels restorative.
These five vegan soups — Miso-Braised Shiitake & Baby Bok Choy Soup, Beet & Root Vegetable Soup, Vegan Mushroom Soup, Kimchi Soup with Tofu, and Lentil Soup — are designed to keep you warm from the inside out. Each one offers something different: umami depth, earthy sweetness, creamy comfort, spicy brightness, and protein-packed heartiness. Together, they create a winter survival kit you’ll turn to long after the snow melts.
Let’s cook.
1.
Miso-Braised Shiitake & Baby Bok Choy Soup
When the forecast feels dramatic, I crave something steady and grounding. Miso offers exactly that. Its fermented depth carries centuries of tradition and a kind of savory calm that feels reassuring during unpredictable weather.
The earthy richness of shiitake mushrooms combined with tender baby bok choy creates a bowl that is both delicate and deeply flavorful. There’s a balance between lightness and substance here — the broth is clear yet layered with umami, the greens vibrant against the steam rising from the bowl.
This is the soup I reach for when I want something soothing but not heavy. It’s ideal for a quiet lunch as snow begins to fall, or for an early dinner when you want to feel nourished without being weighed down. Miso supports gut health, mushrooms offer immune-supporting compounds, and leafy greens provide a boost of vitamins — all welcome during long indoor stretches.
It’s a reminder that warmth doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.
2.
Beet & Root Vegetable Soup
When everything outside turns white, I crave color. There’s something deeply uplifting about slicing into jewel-toned beets and watching a pot transform into a vibrant shade of magenta.
Root vegetables are winter’s quiet heroes. They grow beneath the soil, storing energy and resilience, and they bring that same grounding quality to our kitchens. Beets, carrots, parsnips, and potatoes combine into a soup that feels earthy, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying.
This is the bowl you curl up with while watching snow pile along the windowsill. It’s hearty enough to stand alone but elegant enough to feel intentional. A swirl of coconut yogurt or a drizzle of olive oil on top makes it feel restaurant-worthy, even if you’re still in your snow socks.
Beyond its beauty, this soup is rich in antioxidants and fiber. It’s comforting in a physical way — warming your hands through the bowl — and in an emotional way, too. The color alone is a mood lift during stormy skies.
3.
Vegan Mushroom Soup
Some snow days call for indulgence. When the temperature drops and the wind rattles the windows, a creamy mushroom soup feels like a hug.
The beauty of a vegan mushroom soup is its ability to achieve that classic richness without dairy. Mushrooms themselves bring remarkable depth — savory, almost meaty, layered with complexity. When paired with a plant-based cream element, the result is luxurious without being heavy.
This is the soup you serve with thick slices of toasted sourdough. The one that feels like a proper dinner after a day spent indoors. It satisfies that craving for something cozy and substantial.
Mushrooms are also rich in beta-glucans and other nutrients that support overall wellness, making this bowl as nourishing as it is comforting. There’s something magical about the way mushrooms transform in heat — how they soften, deepen, and intensify. It mirrors the slow transformation of a snowstorm itself: dramatic at first, then settling into stillness.
4.
Kimchi Soup with Tofu
When cabin fever threatens to creep in, spice is the antidote.
Kimchi soup brings bold, invigorating energy to a blizzard day. It’s warming in a completely different way — not just from heat, but from vibrancy. The fermented tang of kimchi combined with silky tofu creates a contrast that feels alive and dynamic.
This is the bowl that wakes you up. The one that clears your senses and warms you from the inside out. Fermented foods like kimchi support gut health, while the gentle heat encourages circulation — exactly what you want when you haven’t stepped outside in hours.
It’s also a reminder that winter cooking doesn’t have to be muted or mellow. Even as snow falls quietly outside, your kitchen can be bold, spicy, and full of personality.
5.
Lentil Soup
If there’s one soup that belongs in every winter kitchen, it’s lentil.
Lentil soup is steady. Reliable. Nourishing in the most fundamental way. Packed with plant-based protein and iron, lentils provide long-lasting energy — ideal for long days indoors when you’re moving slower but still need sustenance.
This is the pot you make in a large batch. The one that tastes even better the next day. The one that reheats beautifully for lunch, dinner, or a quick bowl between shoveling sessions.
With aromatics, herbs, and tomatoes layered in, lentil soup becomes more than simple — it becomes deeply comforting. It’s the culinary equivalent of thick socks and layered blankets.
There’s something reassuring about knowing you have a container of lentil soup waiting in the fridge while the storm rages on.
Why Vegan Soups Shine During a Blizzard
Blizzard cooking is about practicality as much as pleasure. Plant-based soups are:
Pantry-friendly
Budget-conscious
Nutrient-dense
Easy to batch cook
Perfect for freezing
They rely on dried lentils, canned tomatoes, root vegetables, fermented staples, and hardy greens — ingredients that last. And because they’re built around vegetables, legumes, and broths, they feel restorative rather than heavy.
When movement slows and daylight feels shorter, our bodies naturally crave warmth and sustenance. Soup delivers both in the most comforting form.
There’s also something symbolic about a pot simmering during a storm. It creates steadiness. Rhythm. A sense of care and intention. While the weather may feel dramatic, your kitchen becomes a place of calm.
Creating a Blizzard Ritual
In New York, snow has a way of transforming everything. The constant noise softens. Streets empty. The usual rush pauses. It’s an invitation — even if a forced one — to slow down.
Light a candle. Put on music. Chop vegetables without rushing. Let steam fog the kitchen windows while the world outside turns white. Pair your soup with crusty bread, a simple salad, or just enjoy it on its own, ladled generously into your favorite bowl.
Blizzards can feel disruptive, but they can also feel intimate. They bring us back indoors, back to warmth, back to the simple act of feeding ourselves well.
Whether you’re drawn to the restorative umami of miso, the vibrant earthiness of beets, the creamy indulgence of mushrooms, the bold spice of kimchi, or the dependable heartiness of lentils, there’s a bowl waiting for you.
As the snow begins to fall and the forecast turns serious, I’ll be doing what so many of us in New York are doing — staying in, staying warm, and letting a pot of vegan soup carry me through the storm.
