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Is ‘Soup Group’ the Winter Antidote to Book Club?

soup group universal 1
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

Let me preface this by saying I’m one of the rare birds who actually enjoys book club. (I started a “no-pressure” book club with a crew of pals back in 2016 and when the pandemic hit, we made it virtual—that’s how dedicated we are.) But when a friend of mine introduced me to the idea of “soup group,” it sounded like the perfect seasonal swap. Here’s how it works.

What is soup group? Basically, it’s an opportunity to gather an intimate group of pals for a bowl (or two) of homemade soup. The host does the cooking, and you rotate homes for each meet-up. That’s it!

Do you really just serve soup? You could ask somebody to bring wine or a baguette. But really the meet-up is meant to be casual and low-key.

Will I miss talking about books? If you’re worried the conversation won’t be lively, you could assign everyone an article to read or pick a current event that’s ripe for discussion—like the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Netflix docuseries or White Lotus fashion. Or you could simply make it an add-on to your usual book club. (A homemade pot of soup while discussing the latest from Elizabeth Strout sounds pretty cozy, no?)

Now the bigger question: What to serve? Don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for. Recipe ideas below!

1. Chicken Gnocchi Soup

chicken gnocchi soup recipe
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

Time Commitment: 40 minutes

Who needs noodles when you can serve gnocchi?

one pot cheaters bouillabaisse
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

2. One-Pot Cheater’s Bouillabaisse

Time Commitment: 30 minutes

You can reduce the time it takes to whip this Provencal stew together by using a smaller selection of seafood.

Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup
PHOTO: MICHAEL MARQUAND/STYLING: NISHA VORA

3. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup

Time Commitment: 30 minutes

Vibrant in color and in flavor.

Rotisserie Chicken Ramen recipe
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

4. Rotisserie Chicken Ramen

Time Commitment: 30 minutes

Just be sure to pick up a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time.

italian wedding soup recipe
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

5. Italian Wedding Soup

Time Commitment: 1 hour

This hearty soup is classic and a total crowd-pleaser—you can’t miss.


Rachel Bowie Headshot

Royal family expert, a cappella alum, mom

Rachel Bowie is Senior Director of Special Projects & Royals at PureWow, where she covers parenting, fashion, wellness and money in addition to overseeing initiatives within...