March brings the beginning of spring and with it lots of delicious vegetables; there really is no excuse not to get your five-a-day! Even if warmer weather is on the way, there’s still a chill in the air so we’ve found some hearty soup recipes which would make for tasty and filling lunches or light suppers.

Watercress Soup with a Poached Egg – Gordon Ramsay

Watercress is one of the fresh spring greens available this month and its peppery, sharp flavour makes for an unusual and different soup. This recipe is a great choice as a starter for a dinner party as the bright green colour makes it really eye-catching. Mr Ramsay finishes the soup with a perfectly poached egg so this makes the soup a little more filling.

Recipe

To serve

Portuguese Kale and Potato Soup – Keith Snow

Kale is similar to cabbage and comes from the same Brassica family. It’s packed with vitamins C and K and has antioxidant properties too; although it might be more difficult to come by, it’s definitely something you should try to include in your diet. Calo Verde is a traditional Portuguese soup and the flavour of the kale combines well with the spicy sausage – it’s a simple, quick dish to make for a tasty evening meal.

Recipe

Rustic Potato and Cabbage Soup – The Healthy Irishman

Cabbage soup may not sound like the most appetising of dishes, but try this hearty recipe and you’ll realise how delicious it can be. The potatoes in the soup make it quite robust, but for a really yummy lunch, serve with homemade soda bread and some fresh salted butter. If you want to jazz this up a bit, add some crispy pancetta to garnish.

Recipe