Pecorino Romano cheese and black pepper give this white bean soup a creamy and spicy kick.

One of Bobbi Brown's winter staples — this hearty lentil soup from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook — gets its robust flavor from small, green French lentils. Also called Le Puy lentils, they're less starchy than common brown lentils. Look for French lentils at specialty shops.

Lentils add a delicious earthy flavor to the stew; their starchiness helps thicken the broth. Brown lentils work fine in this recipe, but we prefer French green lentils; they hold their shape better. Feel free to cook dried beans especially for this recipe, but any leftover or canned beans—rinsed and drained—will work well.

Remove hocks; remove and discard skin from hocks. Remove meat from bones, and roughly chop; set aside. Skim and discard fat from surface of stock. Set stock aside.

My family loves Chinese food, but it’s hard to find healthy choices in restaurants or at the grocery store, so I make my own. The recipe makes a lot; I freeze big batches so we can enjoy these dumplings later. —Melody Crain, Houston, Texas

Bring the flavors of the French countryside home with this vegetable-filled lentil soup.

A simple and satisfying lentil soup from Eric Monkaba simmers red lentils with tomatoes and spices for a warm and cozy soup.

Eating healthy doesn't mean sacrificing flavor—and these spiced-up zoodles prove it. If you don't have a spiralizer, simply slice the zucchini julienne-style. —Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, Washington

This is now my family's most requested soup—so much so that they will make sure I have leftover turkey. You can spice up this soup and make it more hearty by adding smoked sausage or andouille and some Cajun seasoning to taste. —Gail Lucas, Olive Branch, Mississippi