Holiday Soups and Salads

Round out your holiday meal with a warming bowl of soup or fresh winter salad.

Oyster and Wild Rice Bisque

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Oyster and Wild Rice Bisque

Wintertime is oyster season in New England, so this chowder-like soup inspired by Nantucket's Christmas celebrations makes perfect sense for the holidays. Here's an easy way to create a dinner party for 16 in about half an hour: Make a double batch of this bisque and serve in a large tureen with small bowls so guests can serve themselves. Add a couple loaves of good crusty bread and you're all set.

View Recipe: Oyster and Wild Rice Bisque

Spinach Salad with Gorgonzola, Pistachios, and Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spinach Salad with Gorgonzola, Pistachios, and Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

A spicy-sweet Southern condiment meant for savory applications, pepper jelly deserves a place in every kitchen. Added to a basic vinaigrette for this salad, it creates a dressing that will blow guests away with almost no effort. The salad itself is deliciously different, adding pungent gorgonzola and crunchy pistachios. If you're not a blue-cheese person, use milder and creamier gorgonzola dolce instead.

View Recipe: Spinach Salad with Gorgonzola, Pistachios, and Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

Carrot-Parsnip Soup with Parsnip Chips

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Carrot-Parsnip Soup with Parsnip Chips

The subtle sweetness of carrot and parsnip gives this soup pleasing flavor, and its thick, almost creamy texture makes it hearty and filling. Pan-fried parsnip chips add a little crunch and some visual interest, completing this simple and beautiful soup.

View Recipe: Carrot-Parsnip Soup with Parsnip Chips

Roasted Beet, Avocado, and Watercress Salad

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Roasted Beet, Avocado, and Watercress Salad

With red beets and onions and green avocado slices and watercress, this is a festive salad to begin with. Add in sweet oranges, crunchy pecans, and a tangy sherry-orange vinaigrette, and you've got a great holiday meal opener. This recipe serves 12, so it's great for large gatherings.

View Recipe: Roasted Beet, Avocado, and Watercress Salad

Beef, Black Bean, and Chorizo Chili

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Beef, Black Bean, and Chorizo Chili

There's nothing better on a cold day than a hot bowl of chili to warm body and soul. Plus, serving chili is easy―all you need is the pot, a ladle, and a pile of bowls, and guests can serve themselves. This Mexican-flavored version uses spicy chorizo and chipotle chiles for heat, pinto and black beans for body, and a little cocoa powder for a surprising background flavor.

View Recipe: Beef, Black Bean, and Chorizo Chili

Red Cabbage, Cranberry, and Apple Slaw

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Red Cabbage, Cranberry, and Apple Slaw

Slaw may be associated with summer barbecue and burgers, but this wintry version is a welcome addition to the holiday table. Tart cranberries and crisp apple bring in seasonal flavors, and mild rice vinegar gives a moderate bite to the red-cabbage base.

View Recipe: Red Cabbage, Cranberry, and Apple Slaw

Onion Soup Gratinee

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Onion Soup Gratinée

There's nothing like a bowl of flavorful onion soup topped with a bread round and cheese then toasted in the oven. We cook canned beef broth with vegetables for depth, then add it to lots of caramelized onion for an excellent taste. You can make the soup several days ahead, then just reheat and top with bread and cheese at serving time.

View Recipe: Onion Soup Gratinée

Escarole and Fennel Salad with Pears and Gruyere

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Escarole and Fennel Salad with Pears and Gruyère

This recipe highlights contrasting flavors―the bitterness of escarole with the sweetness of pear, the slight licorice flavor of fennel with the salty bite of cheese. Almond oil in the dressing adds a unique flavor that's worth seeking out, even if it can be somewhat hard to find.

View Recipe: Escarole and Fennel Salad with Pears and Gruyère

Velvety Squash Soup

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Velvety Squash Soup

Winter squash is a quintessential holiday flavor, and in this soup it is no exception. Subtle flavorings like cider, molasses, and a bit of curry powder accentuate the flavor of roasted squash, while a whirl in the blender ensures a smooth and creamy texture. This soup is great for a warming solo lunch on a snowy day, or as the first course of an elaborate dinner-party meal.

View Recipe: Velvety Squash Soup

Watercress, Frise, and Grapefruit Salad with Curry Vinaigrette

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Watercress, Frisée, and Grapefruit Salad with Curry Vinaigrette

This colorful salad is alive with flavors―bitter greens, pungent raw onion, sweet dates, tart grapefruit, and spicy curry―but the result is a well-balanced dish that comes together in seconds and will impress your guests.

View Recipe: Watercress, Frisée, and Grapefruit Salad with Curry Vinaigrette

Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

Photo: José Picayo

Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

This bright, fresh salad of winter greens and sweet-tangy citrus is studded with red pomegranate arils: It’s a dramatic, holiday-worthy plate and a welcome course for vegetarians.

View Recipe: Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

Parsnip and Apple Soup

Photo: José Picayo

Parsnip and Apple Soup

For convenience, you can prepare the soup up to two days ahead and chill. Reheat and garnish just before serving. Tangy yogurt and smoky bacon provide a nice counterpoint and finishing touch.

View Recipe: Parsnip and Apple Soup

Spiced Beet and Carrot Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Spiced Beet and Carrot Soup

This soup is tart, just sweet enough, and hearty, though not a protein powerhouse. If you want to pump up the protein, increase the walnuts or serve with a salad of greens, nuts, and goat cheese.

View Recipe: Spiced Beet and Carrot Soup

Curried Butternut Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Curried Butternut Soup

This creamy soup has a unique blend of flavors that will make it an ideal opener for your holiday meal or served as a weeknight treat alongside a spicy arugula salad.

View Recipe: Curried Butternut Soup

Endive and Watercress Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry

Endive and Watercress Salad with Bacon-Cider Dressing

Smoky bacon, tangy Dijon, and maple syrup cut the bitter and pepper notes of the lettuces. Quality ingredients make all the difference in this simple salad, so splurge on extra-virgin olive oil, real maple syrup, and real-wood-smoked bacon.

View Recipe: Endive and Watercress Salad with Bacon-Cider Dressing

Creamy Pumpkin-Red Pepper Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

Creamy Pumpkin-Red Pepper Soup

The soup can be topped with a variety of things: We love Parmigiano-Reggiano and rosemary, but savory sprinkles like chopped smoked almonds or toasted pecans would be lovely. This tastes even better the next day...or the day after.

View Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin-Red Pepper Soup

Pear and Winter Lettuce Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry/Randy Mayor

Pear and Winter Lettuce Salad

Take advantage of winter fruits and veggies with this tangy salad. Bitter endive and radicchio combine with sweet pear slices and piquant Dijon-balsamic dressing to enlighten the taste buds.

View Recipe: Pear and Winter Lettuce Salad

Winter Salad with Roasted Beets and Citrus Reduction Dressing

Winter Salad with Roasted Beets and Citrus Reduction Dressing

Using fresh orange juice, multicolored beets, and—for good measure—some creamy, tangy goat cheese, this starter salad celebrates the produce of the season and makes a knockout-gorgeous addition to the table.

View Recipe: Winter Salad with Roasted Beets and Citrus Reduction Dressing  

Arugula, Grape, and Sunflower Seed Salad Recipes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Arugula, Grape, and Sunflower Seed Salad

This simple starter salad is nothing short of impressive. Maple syrup, grapeseed oil, and thyme make this dressing simply amazing. Grapes and sunflower seeds blend with peppery arugula for a healthy and yummy first course.

View Recipe: Arugula, Grape, and Sunflower Seed Salad

Healthy Crab Bisque Recipe

Photo: Randy Mayor

Crab Bisque

"I wanted to create a second course that is indulgent, rich, and pretty, too,” said recipe developer Mary Drennen Ankar. A small bowl of this soup will go a long way because of its rich and savory flavor.

View Recipe: Crab Bisque

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