Autumn soups: celebrity favourites

When Adam Driver says "good soup" in the HBO series "Girls", it's not just a meme from 2021, it could be from us after trying to recreate some of those recipes celebrities swear by in the autumn. When we think of a famous person, we certainly don't picture them enjoying a warm and simple soup. Instead, we think of caviar and champagne in a famous, exclusive restaurant that isn't affordable for everyone... but it's not like that, they too love the comforting smell of comfort food when they want to relax.

Soup has been the poor man's food par excellence over the centuries, a likeness that can be found in every corner of the globe, and very often it was the staple food for soldiers due to its versatility. For those interested in the etymology of soup, the word comes from the Germanic "suppa", which referred to bread soaked in broth: In fact, the bread was used as a kind of spoon to hold the food.

Olivia Wilde's matzah meatball soup

In 2017, a soup was at the centre of a dispute between two celebrities who have made headlines recently: Jennifer Lawrence wanted to see Olivia Wilde and Tom Sturridge in a Broadway show, but reportedly had to rush to the bathroom because she wasn't feeling well due to a stomach flu. Wilde revealed on an episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that she sent her Matzah meatball soup and bagels to help her recover and calm her down about what had happened.

Ingredients for the chicken bone broth:

• 1 roasted chicken
• 2 carrots
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 onion
• Bay leaves
• Black pepper

Ingredients for the Matzah meatballs:

• 90 g lard (chicken fat)
• 90g matzah (unleavened bread)
• 3 large eggs
• Salt
• Pepper

Kristen Stewart's Tortilla Soup

Even Kristen Stewart is a fan of this dish. Years ago, she shared the recipe for her "Tortilla Soup" with Vogue, a somewhat quirky and unconventional dish, but definitely worth trying.

This soup seems to be the star's favourite meal. Stewart has even cooked this dish on a popular show on TV. The soup recipe is actually one of the most typical dishes of Mexican cuisine, with the extraordinary taste of jalapenos, the cheerful colour of tomatoes and the bland cheddar cheese to top it all off.

Ingredients for the broth:

• 2 tablespoons of any vegetable oil
• 1 tin of diced tomatoes
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 jalapeño peppers, chopped
• 2 peppers, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 tablespoons ground cumin
• 4 cups chicken stock

Spices:

• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons salt and garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons chilli powder
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• Fresh coriander, chopped
• 2 tortillas
• Lime wedges to taste

Bella Hadid's Chicken Katsu Ramen

If we're wondering what a top model eats to stay in such good shape, especially famous It-girl Bella Hadid, we can now partially answer that question. On her TikTok profile, we have often seen how much the star loves to cook dishes that make her feel full: from burgers to pita, dishes with numerous preparations, but really appetising.

You can find the recipe for her Chicken Katsu Ramen, which is ready in just 30 minutes, here.

Ingredients for the ramen:

• 2 thick-cut strips of bacon, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 2 medium shallots, finely chopped
• Fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 3/4 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup white miso paste
• 2-4 tablespoons chilli paste
• 4 squares ramen noodles
• 4 cups chopped spinach
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• Soft-boiled or poached eggs, toasted nori seaweed leaves, sesame seeds, green onions and chilli oil to serve

Ingredients for the chicken:

• 4 chicken cutlets or 2 boneless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
• Salt

Meghan Markle's pumpkin and lentil soup

Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan Markle ran a lifestyle blog called "The Tig," where she shared tips on everything from travel to fashion to some of her favourite recipes. In this case, it's about a perfect autumn soup: pumpkin and lentils.

This pumpkin soup recipe is on Markle's list of feel-good dishes and is shared by Honestly Healthy. The base of this soup is freshly peeled and chopped pumpkin chunks and red lentils. It's then combined with the perfect spices to give it its warm and inviting flavour. In the final step, all the ingredients are blended after cooking to achieve a delicate creaminess.

Ingredients:

• 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 tablespoon sunflower seed oil
• A generous pinch of pink Himalayan salt
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable stock powder
• 2/3 cup red lentils
• 1 piece kombu seaweed

Gwyneth Paltrow's black bean soup

Finally, after the nutritional statements that have confused many of us, let's talk about the favourite soup of Gwyneth Paltrow, who is very conscious of her diet. Incidentally, Paltrow amused her fans these days after seemingly effortlessly promoting a new probiotic supplement on TikTok. At the beginning of the video, the actress brings the tiny green capsule to her lips before immediately spitting it out into her hand.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 and a half teaspoons sea salt
• 3 large garlic cloves, sliced
• 12 sprigs fresh coriander, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Half a teaspoon of chilli powder
• Half a teaspoon of chipotle chilli powder
• 2 tins of black beans (400g-425g), drained and rinsed
• 3 cups chicken stock

These dishes dispel the notion that soup can only be a sad vegetable minestrone or a vegetable puree, not to mention that you can also pair wine with soup. Francesca Negri, journalist, author and founder of Geishagourmet.com and the Sabrage Academy, introduces us to the best combinations: "An aromatic Gewuerztraminer goes well with a Tuscan farro soup, perhaps the Joseph from Tenuta J. Hofstaetter, a wine with a lot of structure and body. A Lugana, perhaps an I Frati from Ca' dei Frati or the Menasasso from Selva Capuzza, goes well with the mushroom velouté with porcini mushrooms. Finally, with vegetable soup, a classic among soups, I would drink a Chardonnay, perhaps La Fuga from Donnafugata with its spicy notes and aromas of peach, custard and saffron; or a rosé, Rosamati from Fattoria Le Pupille, which smells of small fruits, pepper, geraniums and red flowers and leaves an aromatic acidity in the mouth that should go perfectly with this type of recipe."