Recipes for national homemade soup day

Sip, sip, hooray! National Homemade Soup Day is on February 4, and we have just the recipes for you to try in honor of the unofficial holiday. Plus, soup making can be a great way for folks

50 and up to meal prep something cozy, delicious and healthy any day of the year. “I absolutely LOVE making soup recipes — it’s such a great way to use up random vegetables,” says cookbook

author Alyssa Brantley, adding, “there is nothing more comforting than a bowl of warm soup.” They're also budget friendly and practical. “Soups are an excellent meal choice for AARP

readership as you can cook once and have multiple meals to refrigerate or freeze for future meals,” Brantley says. To celebrate the day, check out these five easy, unique and healthy recipes

from our experts: Turkish Red Lentil Soup | Cauliflower Chickpea Soup | Beef Barley Soup | Somali Chicken Soup | Onion Chicken Soup Courtesy Milk Street TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP (KIRMIZI 

MERCİMEK ÇORBASI) _By_ _the_ _recipe_ _developers_ _at_ _Christopher_ _Kimball’s_ _Milk_ _Street,_ _the_ _cooking_ _and_  _multimedia_ _company_ _based_ _out_ _of_ _Boston,_ _Massachusetts_

_founded_ _by_ _Kimbell_ _who_ _is_ _an_ _editor,_ _publisher_ _and_ _chef._ _Serving_ _size:_ _4_ “Kırmızı mercİmek çorbası is a traditional Turkish soup made with red lentils, which soften

and break down during cooking, adding a rustic texture that’s creamy but not starchy or heavy,” says Milk Street recipe developer Jeanne Maguire. “Some versions include vegetables such as

potatoes, carrots or fresh tomatoes, but ours lets the lentils take the lead. The Aleppo pepper brings gentle heat to the dish. If you can’t find it, order online or substitute with an

additional teaspoon of paprika and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes.” INGREDIENTS * 3 tablespoons salted butter * 1 medium yellow onion, cut into ½-inch dice (about 1 cup) * 1 medium garlic

clove, finely grated * 1 tablespoon tomato paste * 1 tablespoon sweet paprika * ½ teaspoon ground cumin * 1 cup red lentils * 2 tablespoons long-grain white rice * Kosher salt * 3

tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil * 2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper (see headnote) * Chopped fresh mint, to serve (optional) * Lemon wedges, to serve DIRECTIONS * Melt the butter in a large

saucepan over medium heat * Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent (about 5 minutes). * Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds). *

Stir in the tomato paste, paprika and cumin, then cook for about 1 minute. * Add the lentils, rice, 5 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt, and stir to combine. * Bring to a boil over

medium-high heat before reducing heat to maintain a lively simmer. * Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils and rice are tender and broken down (about 30 minutes). * Season

to taste. * Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat the pan * Add the Aleppo pepper and cook until a few bubbles appear and the oil is bright red

before removing from the heat and setting aside. * Serve the soup with lemon wedges on the side and mint and Aleppo pepper oil on top of each serving. PRO TIP: Looking for a way to make this

soup vegan? Just swap the butter for olive oil, says Maguire.