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What to cook in November: Heaping bowls of soups, stews, curries and more to warm you up

A big list of recipes that are simple, convenient and loaded with the ingredients you crave.

A big list of recipes that are simple, convenient and loaded with the ingredients you crave

CBC Life ·
3 overhead shots of bowls of food. Left to right: Ash-e reshteh, Chicken Khao Soi and Misir Wot
(Photo, left to right: Leila Ashtari, Janis Nicolay, DL Acken)

November can catch you off guard. Just when you've finally pulled on a fall jacket after finding yourself underdressed for the weather a few times, snow starts to appear in the forecast. Then with the shift to daylight saving time, plans and errands feel less manageable — there's a rush to get home before it gets dark and the cold really sets in. Even the daytime can feel like a grey purgatory between the colourful fall foliage and the bright white winter snow.

Fortunately, our collective wisdom has come up with an antidote known as 'soup season' — the cosiest of them all! The glow of the kitchen beckons as winter nips at our heels, and it feels good to spend a little extra time chopping, sautéing, and simmering nourishing ingredients for big pots of soups, stews, curries and other warming bowls. We've curated a big list of recipes for you to try this month, including weeknight curries for when you're short on time, big batches of stew to slow cook all afternoon, vegan versions of your creamy favourites and more to turn to.

November cooking isn't just about craving food that warms you up from the inside out, it's about figuring out this transitional period as best you can — logistically, physically, emotionally — with your personal favourite comfort staples. Feel free to serve the recipes on this list in bowls that you can hold close on the couch while you watch your favourite shows or fall flicks.

No Cream of Broccoli Soup with Garlicky Breadcrumbs

A closeup, overhead portrait of a bowl of green soup topped with breadcrumbs. It's sitting on a white marble plate with a silver spoon and a piece of crusty bread next to it, all on top of a white marble counter.
(Photography by Anguel Dimov)

Weeknight Chicken Khao Soi

overhead shot of a blue and white bowl filled with a chicken drumstick, noodles and a curry broth. a plate with lime wedges, sliced shallots and a small bowl of chili oil sit next to it.
(Photography by Janis Nicolay)

Red Wine Beef Stew

Overhead shot of a pot and a bowl filled with red wine beef stew.
(Photo: David Bagosy; Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Meatball Soup with White Beans and Greens

Overhead shot of a shallow white bowl filled with meatball soup with lots of vegetables in it. It's sitting on top of a dark blue cloth napkin on a wooden table.
(Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Harvest Corn Chowder

a bowl of chowder filled with corn, chopped zucchini and red bell pepper
(Photography by Tim and Angela Chin)

Polos Ambula (Young Jackfruit Curry)

Overhead shot of Young Jackfruit Curry in a black pot on a grey surface. The jackfruit is cut in triangular pieces and a wooden spoon is in the top left corner.
(Photography by DL Acken)

Misir Wot

overhead shot of a bowl of lentil stew with a small bowl of spices sitting next to it. a plate with flatbread (injera) sits next to that.
(Photography by DL Acken)

Miso Soup with Root Vegetables

Closeup on someone ladling miso soup with root vegetables from a silver pot into two white bowls.
(Credit: Meg Tanaka and Zenta Tanaka)

Matzo Ball Soup

A table with 2 blue bowls of matzo ball soup, and a soup terrine next to it.
(Photography by Leila Ashtari)

Vegan Potato, Leek & Artichoke Chowder

A ladle removing some creamy potato chowder from a light blue dutch oven sitting on a stovetop.
(Photography by Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews)

Black Pepper Chicken

Closeup on a plate of Black Pepper Chicken on a bed of basmati rice.
(Photography by Nik Sharma)

Kunde

Overhead shot of a shallow bowl filled with kunde, black-eyed peas and tomatoes in peanut sauce. It sits on a dark grey surface.
(Photography by Khadija M. Farah & Jennifer May)

Turkey Neck Soup

Overhead shot of a bowl of turkey neck soup sitting on a red wooden table.
(Photography by Cathryn Sprague)

Paneer Makhani

Closeup on a serving dish of paneer makhani. Pink and purple floral arrangements sit on the left and a plate of naan sits on the right.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

Chicken Kanji

Overhead shot of a grey bowl of kanji, a white, porridge-like soup made with rice and chicken with oil, fried onions and chopped green herbs on top. A spoon sits in the bowl. The bowl is on a black marble table.
(Photography by Nik Sharma)

Diri Sos Pwa Legim

Overhead shot of a plate with with rice, black bean sauce and stew on it, on a wooden table. A bit of a silver pot of stew sits in the top right corner. Another plate is in the bottom left corner. A leafy plant sits in the top left corner.
(Photography by Dominique Lafond)

Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup with Fresh Herbs

A red Dutch oven filled with chicken noodle soup, sitting on a wooden table with carrots, onions, soup bowls and spoons sitting next to it.
(Photo: David Bagosy, Styling: Melissa Direnzo)

Khichdi 

Overhead shot of a bowl of Khichdi topped with red chili slices, cilantro and a dollop of yogurt.
(Photo: Shayma Owaise Saadat)

Khorak Bademjoon

Overhead shot of Khorak Bademjoon (Eggplant Stew) on a white serving dish, with small bowls of limu omani (dried Persian lime) and mint leaves next to it.
(Photography by Betty Binon)

Cream of Tomato Soup

Overhead closeup of a white bowl of tomato soup topped with breadcrumbs, cheese and basil.
(Credit: Drake Devonshire)

Khoresh Ghormeh Sabzi

Closeup on a blue pot filled with Khoresh Ghormeh Sabzi (Fresh Herb Stew).
(Photography by Eric Wolfinger)

Kho

Overhead shot of a pot of kho. Visible slices of fish are in the pot. The pot is sitting on a grey surface.
(Credit: iStock/Getty Images)

Métis Boulettes

Closeup on a bowl of soup with meatballs and potatoes in broth.
(Credit: David Wolfman and Marlene Finn)

Butter Chicken

Closeup on a dark brown plate that has butter chicken and rice on it.
(Photography by Christian Lalonde)

Root Vegetable Stew with Rosemary Garlic Baguette

Overhead shot of a red dutch oven with a root vegetable stew on a wooden surface. 2 bowls of the stew and a plate with sliced bread sit next to the dutch oven.
(Photo credit: Dennis The Prescott)

Greek Easter Soup

Overhead shot of a white bowl of Greek Easter Soup (magiritsa) topped with fresh dill and sitting on a white and blue cloth.
(Photography by Christos Sourligas)

Mushroom Soup with Stilton, Apple & Walnut Croûtes

Overhead closeup of a bowl of mushroom soup sitting on a blue and pink surface. Cream on the soup is in a heart pattern.
(Credit: David Loftus)

Ash-e Reshteh 

Overhead shot of a bowl of Ash-e Reshteh on a pink table. More bowls of the soup sit next to it.
(Photography by Leila Ashtari)

Beef Bourguignon

Overhead shot of a bowl of Beef Bourguignon on a marble surface with a slice of bread and a cloth napkin next to it.
(Credit: CBC Life)

Dal aur Sabzi

Overhead shot of a green plate of Dal aur Sabzi, Lentils with Roasted Carrots and Kale on a white lace tablecloth. A yellow plate of basmati rice sits next to it.
(Photo: Shayma Owaise Saadat)

Winter Pappa al Pomodoro

Overhead shot of 2 black bowls filled with tomato soup topped with basil leaves. They're sitting on a wooden table and surrounded by bread, cheese, and an assortment of cutlery and dishes.
(Photography by Dennis the Prescott)

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