14 Mediterranean Soups You Can Make At Home
Mediterranean soups have a way of turning simple ingredients into something deeply comforting and effortlessly flavorful.
Sun-ripened vegetables, fragrant herbs, hearty grains, and slow-simmered broths come together in bowls that feel both nourishing and inviting.
Each region adds its own personality, drawing on coastal traditions, rustic village cooking, and age-old family recipes.
1. Italian Minestrone
Whatever vegetables are hanging out in your fridge? Toss them in! Minestrone is Italy’s flexible, forgiving vegetable soup that never judges your ingredient choices.
Beans, tomatoes, pasta, and seasonal veggies simmer together in a savory broth. Each Italian grandmother makes it differently, and that’s the beauty of this rustic masterpiece that tastes even better the next day.
2. Spanish Gazpacho
Who said soup has to be hot? This chilled tomato-based refresher is Spain’s ultimate summer secret weapon.
Blended raw vegetables – tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, garlic – create a liquid salad that’s ridiculously refreshing.
No cooking required, just a good blender and quality ingredients. Perfect for sweltering afternoons when even thinking about the stove makes you sweat.
3. Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek Çorbası)
Creamy without any cream – that’s the genius of red lentils! They completely break down during cooking, creating a naturally thick, protein-packed soup that’s pure comfort.
Onions, carrots, and warm spices make this Turkish staple incredibly satisfying. A squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of mint on top? Chef’s kiss! Budget-friendly and soul-warming in one bowl.
4. Moroccan Harira
Traditionally served to break the Ramadan fast, harira is Morocco’s hearty hug in a bowl. Chickpeas, lentils, tomatoes, and lamb (or go meatless!) simmer with warming spices like cinnamon and ginger.
The addition of vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs makes each spoonful texturally interesting. Dates on the side balance the savory richness beautifully.
5. French Bouillabaisse
Fishermen in Marseille created this legendary seafood stew from their daily catch, and boy, did they nail it! Saffron-infused broth cradles an assortment of fish and shellfish, creating oceanic luxury.
The real secret? Rouille – a garlicky, spicy mayo spread on toasted bread that floats in your bowl. Fancy enough for guests, special enough for yourself.
6. Italian Ribollita
Stale bread gets a second life in this Tuscan peasant soup that’s literally named “reboiled.” Day-old bread soaks up a rich broth filled with kale, cannellini beans, and vegetables until it becomes wonderfully thick.
The result? Something between soup and stew that’s impossibly satisfying. Waste not, want not never tasted this good!
7. Greek Avgolemono Soup
Silky, tangy, and absolutely dreamy – this egg-lemon wonder is Greece’s answer to chicken noodle soup, but way more sophisticated.
The magic happens when you temper beaten eggs with hot broth, creating a velvety texture that coats your spoon.
Rice or orzo adds body while fresh lemon juice delivers that signature zing. Comfort food never tasted this elegant!
8. Greek Fasolada (White Bean Soup)
Ancient Greeks considered this their national dish, and honestly, they were onto something! Creamy white beans swim in a tomato-vegetable broth that’s simple yet deeply flavorful.
Olive oil is stirred in at the end, adding richness without heaviness. Some call it the original superfood soup – packed with protein, fiber, and Mediterranean goodness that’s stood the test of millennia.
9. Lebanese Shorbat Adas (Lentil Soup)
Cumin is the star here, giving this Lebanese lentil soup its distinctive, warming character. Unlike its Turkish cousin, this version gets blended super smooth and finished with crispy fried onions on top.
That textural contrast? Absolutely addictive! Squeeze fresh lemon over everything right before eating. Simple ingredients, maximum flavor – that’s Lebanese cooking in a nutshell.
10. Spanish Sopa de Ajo (Garlic Soup)
Got a cold? Spaniards swear by this garlic-loaded remedy that’s basically liquid comfort. Toasted bread, loads of garlic, smoky paprika, and a poached egg create something way more delicious than it sounds.
The egg yolk breaks and enriches the broth when you dig in. Peasant food turned cure-all that’ll knock out whatever’s bothering you – or at least taste amazing trying!
11. Italian Pasta e Fagioli
Pasta and beans might sound boring, but Italians turn this humble combo into pure magic. Small pasta shapes nestle among creamy beans in a tomato-herb broth that’s neither too soupy nor too thick.
Each region makes it differently – some prefer it brothier, others stewier. Parmesan on top is non-negotiable, though.
12. Portuguese Caldo Verde
Portugal’s beloved green soup gets its color from finely shredded kale that ribbons through a creamy potato base. Slices of smoky chorizo add richness and a touch of spice.
Street vendors serve it at festivals, grandmothers make it weekly, and everyone agrees it’s pure comfort. The kale should be cut paper-thin for authentic texture – sharp knife skills required!
13. Tunisian Lablabi (Chickpea Soup)
Street food breakfast soup? Tunisia says absolutely! Chickpeas in spiced broth get topped with torn bread, a runny egg, harissa, capers, and whatever else strikes your fancy.
Every vendor has their secret spice blend. You basically build your own bowl, mixing everything together into a spicy, satisfying mess.
14. Italian Acquacotta
Translated as “cooked water,” this Tuscan soup sounds way less exciting than it tastes! Charcoal makers and shepherds created this from foraged ingredients – wild greens, mushrooms, stale bread, and an egg.
The egg poaches right in the bowl when you pour hot broth over it. Peasant ingenuity at its finest, proving you don’t need fancy ingredients for extraordinary flavor.
