Three hearty soup recipes to keep you warm as temperatures drop

Easter and Anzac Day are now in the rear-view mirror, which means winter is just around the corner, and there are few things better for warming the body and nourishing the soul than a hearty bowl of soup.

From a veggie-filled minestrone to a brothy blend of chicken, leak, parsnip and noodles, and a chunky tomato and vegetable-based soup packed with tortellini, these recipes are sure to bring comfort as the weather cools.

Simple and hearty minestrone soup 

There's a reason minestrone remains a go-to choice for soup lovers — it's hearty, nourishing, affordable and a crowd-pleaser. 

This Italian classic begins with a soffritto of vegetables, which are flavoured with woody herbs and parsley stalks.

Fresh bay leaves are recommended and you can add some pancetta to give it an extra burst of flavour, or leave it out if you want to keep it vegetarian.

Chicken, leek and parsnip soup with noodles

Chicken soup has many different incarnations and Heidi Sze's recipe uses carrots and parsnips, but you can use any other root vegetables in their place.

Whether you prefer a bowl brimming with noodles, or a broth-heavy blend you can dip your toast in, it's sure to warm you up.

Vegetable soup with tortellini

This recipe puts a fresh spin on a classic minestrone, replacing the traditional short pasta with a generous serve of tortellini.

Hetty Lui McKinnon's dish is somewhere between a chunky soup and thick stew, with the rich tomato and vegetable broth perfectly complementing the pasta.

Cooking the vegetable base at a high heat to encourage caramelisation makes it extra rich and also draws out the sugars from the vegetables, and amplifies their flavour.