As the cooler months depart, soup remains a comforting, versatile and cost-effective menu option. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, it’s easy to prepare even in a busy commercial kitchen because you can make it in batches of five or ten litres which you can then freeze until needed.

Soups are also a great way to repurpose leftovers and excess stock from the fridge. And best of all, customers love them – not only are they warming and filling, they help maintain hydration and can be made with a variety of hearty, wholesome ingredients.

In recent years creative chefs have reinvented soup as a complete meal, with lots of flavoursome inclusions. For example, a Mediterranean roasted vegetable soup might include some pulled lamb, while a roasted zucchini soup topped with crumbled smoked salmon, a few curds of ricotta and chopped chives is sure to make a great impression.

Especially at this time of year, it’s important to come up with soup recipes which not only have broad appeal but also offer plenty of nourishment. Around 50-80g of protein will ensure your soup is well balanced without weighing your customers down – with ingredients like fresh vegetables and fruit imparting plenty of fibre and other nutrients. You can find well-loved traditional soup recipes across all nationalities and cultures, so it’s simply a case of building upon those and adding a contemporary spin.

From thick seafood chowders to Asian laksa or ramen made with egg noodles, soups can be extremely flavoursome and filling, yet still economical enough to sell at a pricepoint which is sure to appeal to customers – typically less than the cost of a main meal which contains a bigger protein serve.

Dairy products are ideal for enhancing the flavours of many vegetable and fruit-based soups – such as adding a drizzle of Farmers Union Natural Greek Style Yoghurt atop curried pumpkin soup, or serving sides of sourdough topped with Dairy Farmers Cream Cheese or shredded cheeses such as Dairy Farmers Shredded Mozzarella, Parmesan or Tasty Cheeses. You’ll find some examples in our Tips and Hints section.

When it comes to developing your soup recipes, remember presentation is as important as taste – so take advantage of the colours of your fresh ingredients. A beautiful green pea soup, topped with torn mint and grilled chorizo, will capture customer attention thanks to its colour contrasts – and can be a great way to promote your menu by posting on your Instagram account.

You should also make sure your ingredients are well seasoned – for example, when making a cauliflower soup, you could begin by slow-cooking the cauliflower, then season it so the flavours develop throughout the dish until the end of the cooking process.

Soups are also ideal to serve as part of a lunchtime meal combo, such as a soup-salad-sandwich: a bowl of soup with a warm salad on the side, complemented by a toastie, is a great drawcard across multiple demographics.