Asian soups offer a world of flavors that can warm your body and soul. From the spicy depth of Korean soups to the aromatic broths of Vietnam, these recipes bring together unique ingredients and cooking techniques that have been perfected over centuries.
These delicious soups combine fresh herbs, spices, proteins, and vegetables to create balanced meals that can be enjoyed year-round.
Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a comforting weekend meal, Asian soups can be the perfect solution.
You’ll find options ranging from simple broths that take minutes to prepare to rich, complex recipes that develop flavor over hours of simmering. Many of these soups also serve as complete meals with protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates all in one bowl.
1. Simple Chicken Pho
Chicken Pho, or Phở Gà, is a comforting Vietnamese soup that combines aromatic broth with tender chicken and rice noodles. You can make a quick version in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
The key to great pho is the flavorful broth. Traditional recipes infuse chicken pieces with spices for a magical flavor that store-bought stock can’t match.
To serve, place cooked rice noodles in a large bowl, add chicken pieces, and pour the hot broth over. Top with chopped green onions and cilantro for freshness.
Some recipes include a chicken skin and green onion oil that adds wonderful aroma and elevates the flavor of this satisfying soup.
2. Tom Kha Gai
Tom Kha Gai is a classic Thai coconut chicken soup known for its rich and creamy texture with a perfect balance of tangy and salty flavors.
The soup gets its name from its key ingredient – galangal (“kha” in Thai), along with chicken (“gai”).
This comforting soup combines coconut milk with traditional Thai herbs including lemongrass, galangal, and makrut (kaffir) lime leaves. These ingredients create the soup’s distinctive aromatic profile.
To make authentic Tom Kha Gai, you’ll need chicken stock, fish sauce, and lime juice for that perfect tangy finish. Some recipes also include shallots for added depth of flavor.
You can easily adjust the spice level to suit your taste preferences.
3. Hot and Sour Soup
Hot and Sour Soup is a classic Chinese dish known for its perfect balance of flavors. It combines savory, spicy, and tangy notes in one hearty bowl.
You can make this soup at home in about 25 minutes. The base typically includes chicken stock, soy sauce, and vinegar – either white vinegar or Chinese black vinegar.
Key ingredients often include mushrooms, while white pepper provides the signature heat. The soup gets its thickness from cornstarch.
Many people find homemade versions taste even better than restaurant ones. The soup is completely addictive with its complex flavor profile that warms you from the inside out.
4. Wonton Soup
Wonton soup is a classic Chinese dish that takes just 15 minutes to prepare. The soup combines flavorful broth with delicate wontons, which are dumplings filled with seasoned meat.
To make this soup, you’ll need chicken stock, ginger, garlic, and green onions for the broth. Some recipes add shiitake mushrooms for extra flavor.
You can use store-bought frozen wontons to save time or make your own with ground pork and wonton wrappers. For a “lazy” version, simply drop pork meatballs and quartered wonton wrappers directly into the simmering broth.
Fresh vegetables like spinach make great additions. The soup simmers for 10-15 minutes before serving.
5. Miso Soup
Miso soup is a staple in Japanese cuisine that brings comfort and flavor to any meal. This simple soup uses miso paste, a fermented soybean product that adds a rich umami taste.
You can make a traditional version with tofu, seaweed, and green onions in just 15 minutes. The soup is both warming and light, perfect as a starter or side dish.
Feel free to customize your miso soup by adding different vegetables, noodles, or proteins. Many recipes include greens for extra nutrition or mushrooms for more depth of flavor.
Miso paste comes in different varieties – white, yellow, and red – each offering unique flavor profiles for your soup.
6. Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy
This comforting soup combines fragrant ginger and garlic with tender bok choy for a nutritious meal. You can prepare it in just twenty minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
The vegetarian broth serves as a flavorful base for the noodles and vegetables. Shiitake or crimini mushrooms add earthiness, while green onions provide a mild, fresh flavor.
The recipe is versatile – add protein like chicken or shrimp if you prefer. The warming properties of ginger make this soup especially good during cold season.
With simple ingredients including shallots, sesame oil, and fresh bok choy, you’ll create a satisfying Asian-inspired soup that’s both light and fulfilling.
7. Yuzu Ramen
Yuzu ramen combines the refreshing citrus flavor of yuzu with traditional ramen elements. This Japanese soup stands out with its bright, tangy profile that cuts through the richness of the broth.
You can make yuzu ramen with various protein options. Turkey with crispy skin works wonderfully, as do traditional choices like pork or chicken. For a vegetarian version, tofu or additional vegetables make excellent substitutes.
The key ingredient is yuzu, a citrus fruit that adds a distinct tartness. It pairs especially well with miso or shio (salt-based) broths. Adding crunchy vegetables like shishito peppers brings texture and color to this comforting dish.
Many recipes include soba noodles as an alternative to traditional ramen noodles for a lighter meal.
8. Sesame Oil Chicken Soup
Sesame Oil Chicken Soup is a warming Taiwanese dish known for its nourishing properties. It combines black sesame oil, ginger, and chicken to create a comforting meal.
In Taiwan, this soup is traditionally served to new mothers and older adults to strengthen overall health. The key ingredients work together to create a dish that’s both flavorful and beneficial.
The recipe typically includes unpeeled sliced ginger, black sesame oil, and chicken. Some versions add dried longyan for extra flavor.
This soup is perfect for cold days when you need something to warm you up. The aromatic combination of sesame oil and ginger creates a unique flavor profile you’ll enjoy.
9. Opo Squash Meatball Soup
Opo squash meatball soup features tender meatballs swimming in a light, flavorful broth. This comforting dish is perfect year-round and highlights the mild taste of opo squash.
To make this soup, you’ll need ground pork, garlic, peeled and diced opo squash, and salt. The juicy meatballs are typically dropped into simmering water, where they cook for about 5 minutes until they float to the top.
Fish sauce is often added for extra flavor. The squash cooks down in the broth, creating a satisfying texture that pairs perfectly with the soft meatballs. This soup offers a wonderful balance of hearty protein and light vegetables.
10. Bitter Melon Soup with Pork
Bitter Melon Soup with Pork is a popular Cantonese dish known for its unique flavor profile. The main ingredient, bitter melon, has a distinctive taste that softens when simmered in broth.
You can prepare this soup by hollowing out bitter melons and stuffing them with a mixture of ground pork, wood ear mushrooms, and cellophane noodles. Fish sauce and black pepper add depth to the filling.
In Vietnamese cuisine, this dish is called Canh Khổ Qua. The bitter melons become tender after cooking, balancing their natural bitterness with the savory pork filling.
This soup offers simple, pure ingredients that create a delicious harmony of flavors. It’s easy to make at home and represents traditional Asian comfort food at its finest.
11. Asian Chicken Noodle Soup
Asian Chicken Noodle Soup combines classic comfort with Eastern flavors for a healing meal. It begins with sautéed garlic and ginger in fragrant sesame oil.
The broth features soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, creating a delicious base unlike traditional chicken soup. Add tender chicken pieces for protein and hearty satisfaction.
Fresh vegetables like bok choy, carrots, and mushrooms add color and nutrition. The soup is completed with ramen noodles, making it filling and satisfying.
This versatile recipe works well for weeknight dinners or when you’re feeling under the weather. You can adjust the spice level to suit your taste preferences.
12. Instant Pot Pho
Pho, a classic Vietnamese noodle soup, becomes much easier to make with an Instant Pot. This method cuts the cooking time in half compared to traditional stovetop methods, without sacrificing flavor.
You can make rich, aromatic beef broth in about 3 hours instead of the usual all-day simmer. The pressure cooker extracts deep flavors from beef bones, spices like star anise and cinnamon, and aromatics.
The result is a clear, flavorful broth perfect for serving with rice noodles, thinly sliced beef, and fresh herbs. Top your bowl with bean sprouts, lime wedges, and sriracha for an authentic experience.
13. Sinigang na Baboy
Sinigang na Baboy is a popular Filipino sour soup made with pork ribs or cuts, vegetables, and a tamarind-flavored broth. This hearty dish is perfect for cold weather and widely considered one of the Philippines’ most beloved soups.
The key to this soup is its distinctive sour taste from tamarind. You’ll find vegetables like tomatoes, string beans, and spinach adding nutrition and flavor to the rich pork base.
When preparing Sinigang na Baboy, you can adjust the sourness level to your taste. Most Filipinos serve this comforting soup with steamed rice to balance the tangy broth, making it a complete meal.
14. Coconut Curry Soup
Coconut curry soup blends creamy coconut milk with aromatic curry spices for a warming, flavorful dish. This Thai-inspired soup typically includes red curry paste, which adds depth and a mild heat.
You can customize this soup with your preferred protein—shrimp works wonderfully, but chicken or tofu are excellent alternatives. For authentic flavor, include ingredients like lemongrass, lime juice, and fish sauce.
The soup comes together quickly, often in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight meals. Add vegetables like carrots for color and nutrition, and serve with noodles for a more filling option.
15. Shrimp Pad Thai Soup
Shrimp Pad Thai Soup transforms the famous noodle dish into a comforting bowl of soup. This flavorful creation combines the signature taste of Pad Thai with a brothy consistency.
The soup features rice noodles, plump shrimp, and a broth infused with coconut milk, red curry paste, and lime juice. You’ll also find traditional Pad Thai ingredients like bean sprouts, peanuts, and cilantro.
This one-pot meal comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights. You can adjust the spice level to suit your taste by adding more or less curry paste.
Serve this soup with extra lime wedges and crushed peanuts for a truly authentic Thai experience.
16. Coconut Curry Cauliflower Soup
This creamy soup combines the mild flavor of cauliflower with rich coconut milk and aromatic curry spices. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
The recipe is simple to make in one pot. You’ll start by sautéing onions until golden, then add cauliflower florets and spices like curry powder, turmeric, and cumin.
Coconut milk gives the soup its silky texture while keeping it completely vegan. The Thai curry paste adds a pleasant heat that balances the sweetness of the coconut.
For the best results, blend the soup until smooth. Serve it hot with a sprinkle of fresh herbs on top.
17. Thai Curry Soup
Thai Curry Soup is a tasty blend of flavors. It mixes coconut milk, red curry paste, and aromatic herbs like lemongrass and basil.
You can make this soup with chicken, shrimp, or keep it vegetarian. The protein cooks in the rich broth, soaking up all the curry flavors.
Rice noodles are often added for a filling meal. Fresh lime juice gives the soup a bright, tangy finish.
This soup is ready in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. You can adjust the curry paste amount to control the spice level.
18. Curried Chicken Corn Chowder
Curried Chicken Corn Chowder blends classic American corn chowder with aromatic curry flavors. This fusion dish creates a warm, satisfying soup perfect for cool evenings.
Start by sautéing onions and celery in butter until tender. Then add corn and chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a boil.
For a Thai-inspired version, add coconut milk to create a creamy, slightly sweet base. The curry spices complement the sweetness of the corn beautifully.
You can adjust the spice level to your preference. Serve this hearty chowder with crusty bread for a complete meal that brings together the best of both Asian and Western cooking traditions.
19. Chinese Noodle Soup
Chinese Noodle Soup is a quick and comforting dish you can make in just 15 minutes. The aromatic broth tastes like it’s from a restaurant but uses simple pantry ingredients.
You can prepare this one-pot meal with water, a few items from your fridge, and basic Asian seasonings. The soup features tender noodles swimming in a flavorful broth that’s both warming and satisfying.
For the best results, use fresh noodles if available, but dried work well too. Add your favorite protein like chicken, beef, or tofu, and top with green onions for extra flavor.
This versatile soup makes a perfect weeknight meal when you need something fast but delicious.
20. Mushroom Soup
Mushroom soup with Asian flavors makes a wonderful light meal or starter. You can create this soup using baby bella mushrooms, which add a rich earthy flavor.
For the best taste, include ginger, garlic, and soy sauce in your broth. These ingredients create that distinctive Asian profile that makes this soup special.
Try using different varieties of mushrooms together for more complex flavors. Some recipes call for three types of mushrooms to create a potent, flavorful broth.
For a complete meal, add soba noodles or serve the soup with a side of rice. This soup works well as a vegan option if you use vegetable broth as the base.
21. Lemongrass Chicken Soup
Lemongrass chicken soup is a fragrant and comforting dish popular in Southeast Asian cuisine, especially in Cambodia and Thailand. The soup features a clear broth infused with aromatic lemongrass, which gives it a unique citrusy flavor.
To make this soup, you’ll need chicken, fresh lemongrass, herbs, and vegetables. Many versions include fish sauce for depth and sometimes coconut milk for creaminess.
You can customize your lemongrass chicken soup with rice noodles for a heartier meal. The combination of bright herbs and tangy flavors creates a balanced dish.
This soup works well as a light dinner or when you’re feeling under the weather. The aromatic broth is both soothing and flavorful.
Traditional Ingredients Used in Asian Soups
Asian soups rely on distinctive ingredients that create their complex flavors and aromatic profiles. These traditional components have been perfected over centuries and vary widely across different regions of Asia.
Exploring Unique Herbs and Spices
Cilantro adds a fresh, citrusy note to many Asian soups, particularly in Vietnamese pho and Thai tom yum. Thai basil offers a slightly sweet, anise-like flavor that distinguishes it from Italian varieties.
In many Southeast Asian recipes, you’ll find lemongrass providing a subtle citrus undertone without the acidity of actual citrus.
Kaffir lime leaves deliver an intense, aromatic quality that’s essential in soups like tom kha. Ginger appears in countless recipes, adding warmth and subtle spice.
Star anise and cinnamon often feature in Chinese and Vietnamese broths, creating depth and complexity.
Chili pastes like gochujang (Korean) and chili garlic sauce provide heat and dimension. Sesame oil isn’t just for cooking—it’s frequently added as a finishing touch for its rich, nutty aroma.
Common Broths and Their Bases
Dashi forms the foundation of Japanese cuisine, made from dried bonito flakes and kombu seaweed. This umami-rich stock requires minimal ingredients but delivers maximum flavor.
Chinese soups often start with a clear broth made from simmering chicken, pork bones, or both for hours.
Vegetable stocks in Asian cooking frequently include aromatics like scallions, garlic, and ginger. These create a flavorful base even without meat.
Many Thai soups use coconut milk as their liquid component, creating rich, creamy textures. Fish sauce appears in numerous Southeast Asian broths, adding that distinctive salty, fermented depth that’s hard to replicate.
Miso paste, a fermented soybean product, forms the base of Japan’s famous miso soup while providing probiotics and complex flavors. You’ll find it in various strengths from mild white miso to robust red varieties.
Cultural Significance of Soups in Asian Cuisine
Soups hold deep cultural meaning across Asia, serving as more than just nourishment but as symbols of family unity and traditional values. These warming dishes appear at celebrations, healing practices, and daily meals with significance that varies widely across regions.
Soup Etiquette and Rituals
In Japan, slurping noodle soups like ramen is actually encouraged as it shows appreciation for the meal and helps cool down hot broth as you eat. This practice would be considered impolite in Western dining but is a mark of enjoyment in Japanese culture.
Chinese families traditionally serve soups at the end of meals to aid digestion, not as starters. During Lunar New Year celebrations, long noodle soups symbolize longevity, and it’s considered bad luck to cut the noodles.
In Korean households, miyeok-guk (seaweed soup) holds special significance as the traditional birthday meal, connecting to postpartum recovery and honoring one’s mother.
Many Asian cultures view certain soups as medicinal. When you’re sick in Vietnam, your family might prepare a healing phở with specific herbs and spices believed to restore health.
Regional Variations and Influences
Northern Chinese soups tend to be heartier with wheat noodles and rich broths to combat cold winters. Meanwhile, southern regions favor lighter, rice-based soups, reflecting warmer climates and abundant seafood.
Thai soups showcase a balance of flavors. The famous Tom Yum combines sour, spicy, salty, and sweet elements that reflect Thai culinary philosophy of harmony through contrasting tastes.
Trade routes significantly shaped Asian soup traditions. The Silk Road introduced Middle Eastern ingredients to Chinese cooking. Meanwhile, colonial influences brought European techniques to Vietnam’s phở.
Island nations like Japan and the Philippines developed distinctive seafood-based soups utilizing their marine resources. Japanese dashi (seaweed and bonito broth) forms the foundation of many soups, highlighting their reverence for umami flavors.
Religious practices also influence soup traditions. Buddhist vegetarian soups in China and Korea focus on mushrooms and vegetables to create depth without meat. Meanwhile, Hindu-influenced regions may avoid beef in their recipes.
