serves 4 Pho, pronounced fuh, is a hearty Vietnamese soup traditionally made with beef. In this quick and tasty, albeit nontraditional, version, seitan, or wheat meat, replaces the beef. Look for seitan in the refrigerated section of natural food stores. If you can’t...

serves 4 Frozen stir-fry vegetables are the secret to the speed of preparing this flavorful Asian soup. If you have extra time, chop some fresh vegetables to replace the frozen ones. Celery, carrots, and bok choy are good choices. Snow peas make a good addition as...

serves 4 Cucumber and avocado team up for a refreshing chilled soup that is light yet rich-tasting and creamy. This recipe makes enough for four small bowls to serve as a lovely first course but can easily be doubled if you want more soup. I think the radish makes an...

serves 4 to 6 If you prefer your gazpacho more on the spicy side, begin with a spicy tomato-vegetable juice, such as Spicy Hot V8, or serve with the Tabasco bottle handy, so hot-food lovers can spice the soup to their own taste. (Note: Since this soup benefits from...

serves 4 Red lentils are the quickest-cooking variety of lentils, making them an ideal candidate for a quick soup. Curry powder adds an Indian flavor, making this soup reminiscent of dal, the savory lentil and bean dish of India. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1...

serves 4 To brighten the flavor of the soup slightly, add a splash of sherry during the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Another nice change is to use different herbs, according to preference and what’s available. One suggestion is to substitute fresh dill for both the...

serves 4 The classic Italian vegetable soup typically includes a wide variety of vegetables. Using frozen vegetables reduces the prep time as well as the cooking time, but fresh vegetables may be used instead if you prefer. Cooked pasta, rice, or orzo added at the...