5 vegetarian recipes for rich winter soups

There are nights when dinner doesn't get any better than a comforting bowl of soup. We've pulled some of our favorites, perfect for a chilly winter night. Best of all? If you're looking for ideas for Meatless Monday, these soups are all meat-free. Simply click on the photos below to go to the recipes.

Creamy mushroom and roasted onion soup

Rich, hearty and perfect for Meatless Monday.

(Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times)

Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times

If you're craving a bowl of rich mushroom soup, this recipe delivers. No less than a pound of cremini mushrooms are simmered with garlic, shallots, onion and buttery Chardonnay for an aromatic base. Purée the mushrooms with heavy cream for a smooth, velvety finish, then stir in finely chopped roasted onion (the onion can be roasted ahead of time) at the end. A thin slice of Parmigiano-Reggiano completes each serving.

Coral Tree Cafe's vegetable soup

Rich and hearty.
Recipe: Coral Tree Cafe’s vegetable soup

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times

Fresh vegetables simmered with barley in a hearty broth make for a perfect one-dish meal.

Sally Lunn's carrot, lentil and cumin soup

The carrot, lentil and cumin soup recipe from a restaurant in Bath, England, is flavorful and easy to make. Read the recipe »

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

It's rich and full of deep flavor, so you might never guess this soup is vegetarian. Or that it comes together so quickly and easily. Sally Lunn's in Bath, England, was happy to share its recipe so you can have a little taste of Bath here at home.

Joe's wild mushroom soup

Wild mushroom soup is a rich purée. Recipe: Joe’s wild mushroom soup

(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Chef and owner Christopher Czarnecki was happy to share the recipe for wild mushroom soup, rich with flavor yet simple to make. It's not surprising that the soup is so good. His father and restaurant founder Jack Czarnecki is a legendary mushroom hunter and cook.

La Casa Sena's potato green chile soup

Tender potatoes are pureed with heavy cream to form the base for this rich and satisfying soup, with roasted diced chiles folded in for subtle heat.
Recipe: Potato green chile soup

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Tender potatoes are pureed with heavy cream to form the base for this rich and satisfying soup, with roasted diced chiles folded in for subtle heat.

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