A soup swap, or soup exchange party, is a creative way to fill your fridge or freezer with soups of all kinds. And because soup season falls in the middle of winter, this gives you an excuse to gather friends and family together on these short winter days. Follow along as we walk through how to host a successful soup swap for your fellow soup enthusiasts.
What Is A Soup Swap
A soup swap is a party where guests bring homemade soup to be exchanged for other varieties. In short, it’s a fun way to try new soups, gather with friends, and stock your fridge with soups to be eaten all winter long.
Soup Party Invitation
We’ve found that 4-6 guests is the most manageable when it comes to actually making a triple or sometimes quadruple batch of soup. Reach out to your guests individually and see if there are any dietary restrictions to be mindful of. Be sure to include these in your invite along with a link to a Google spreadsheet (or something similar) allowing your guests to see what soups will be on the menu, ensuring that there aren’t duplicates.
What Soups Are Best For A Soup Swap
Since some, if not all of these soups will get frozen, steer clear of soups that include a cream base, potatoes, seafood, or thickening ingredients like cornstarch. Soups with these ingredients can change in texture and flavor after being frozen and then thawed. The best soups to freeze are ones with broth bases, chilis, stews, or blended/pureed soups. Here are a few of our favorites.
Great Freezer Soups
- Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Best Ever Short Rib Chili
- Acorn Squash Soup
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
- Beef and Barley Soup
For more ideas of what to make for your soup swap, check out this roundup of our favorite soup recipes.
When To Make My Soup
Ask your guests to make their soup a few days in advance, leaving it up to them whether they bring frozen or fresh soup. If you want there to be taste testing, instruct guests to bring a few cups of unfrozen soup. Otherwise, soups should be divided into quart sized reusable containers labeled with the soup name and any dietary notes such as vegetarian, dairy-free, vegan, etc.
Party Prep
The big day is here! If taste testing is going to be part of your exchange, get out your over-sized mugs, cute bowls, and fun utensils. Next, clear off a space to display the soups like a counter or dining room table. And if you’re feeling really fancy, set up a labeling station with note cards and markers for those who might have forgotten to label their soup.
The Soup Swap Day
Lastly, let each participant describe their soup to the group, being sure to mention suggested toppings, reheating instructions, and where they found the recipe. It’s always fun to hear the family stories/heritage of each soup and why it’s special to that person.
After each soup has been described, open it up for taste testing! If you don’t plan on having a tasting element, go right into the exchanging. The way you go about this is really up to you, but we’ve found it helpful to allow guests to chose their soups one at a time, concluding the swap when everyone has a variety of soups.
What To Serve At A Soup Exchange
You don’t need to do anything elaborate here, as the soups are the stars of the show. If anything, set out a few bread options, cheeses, and some simple crackers for the taste testing portion if you chose to have one. But if you just can’t help yourself, make our gorgeous charcuterie board.
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