Samhain fast approaches. And what better way to celebrate this Autumnal sabbat, the last harvest, than with a delicious, cozy meal? One of my family’s favorite things to do for Samhain is to cook and feast. Some years we go traditional, other years we go contemporary with our food choice. Either way, Samhain soups and stews with homemade bread always seem to be the family’s favorite. So here we provide you with our top Samhain soups and stews recipes, both traditional and modern.

Briefly, What is Samhain?

First, what is Samhain? Perhaps you are here and you have an idea but aren’t too sure. Let us break it down for you. Samhain (pronounced Sow-en) is a Celtic pagan holiday with ancient roots that is celebrated at sunset October 31st through sunset November 1st…which coincides with Halloween. No, this isn’t a coincidence. Believe it or not, Halloween is our modern version of the old Celtic harvest festival called Samhain. And yes, the Church tried to stamp out Samhain by repackaging it into All Saints Day, to no avail. We still celebrate Halloween in America (and elsewhere in the world), and many modern pagans honor its roots by upholding Samhain traditions.

A few of those Samhain traditions include recognizing the Last Harvest. This can be done in many ways but often by cooking, baking, and feasting. Traditional foods to include in your Samhain feast include apples, gourds (pumpkins included), potatoes, squash, corn, wheat, pork and wine. In addition, celebrating Halloween with trick-or-treating, parties, and carving jack-o-lanterns may seem like “new” traditions, but in fact are also quite old. But enough about that…on to the SOUPS and STEWS!

Cozy, Delicious Samhain Soups

The best thing about soups on Samhain is that they invoke ALL the cozy feels. Especially if Halloween / Samhain tends to be a bit chilly where you live. These Samhain soups are both traditional and modern (and marked as such) and all are incredibly nutritious and filling. There are even Vegan options: number 1 (follow the Vegan link) and number 3. And don’t worry about having to eat this only on Samhain…Samhain is a season not just one day! I start cooking these soups from September on!

1. Colcannon Soup (Traditional)

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish at Samhain and is essentially mashed potatoes with a slab of butter. Sometimes bacon and cabbage is added to the mix. For our recipe here, we aren’t recommending mashed potatoes, necessarily, but a version of Colcannon in the form of soup. Colcannon soup can also be made Vegan. Here’s our recipe:

Samhain Colcannon Soup INGREDIENTS  

• 8 Russet potatoes Peeled and chopped into large chunks
• 1/2 Cabbage head Washed and chopped
• 1 Yellow onion Chopped
• 2 Garlic cloves Minced
• 32 oz Chicken broth
• 6 TBSP Butter
• 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• 2 Bay leaves
• Salt and pepper To taste
• Smoked sausage rounds or chopped ham OPTIONAL

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Melt half stick of butter (4 tbsp) in large stockpot. Add onion. Cook until onions are translucent.
2. Add garlic and cook one minute until fragrant.
3. Add broth, potatoes, bay leaves, a palmful of salt and a pinch of pepper. Heat to a light boil. Let cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. (NOTE: I sometimes add some extra water, depending on if I want my soup to be thin or thicker like stew. The choice is yours)
4. Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (this cuts down on the smell of the cabbage when it boils)
5. Add cabbage. Taste and add extra salt and pepper, if needed. This is also where you can add any extra herbs or spices you’d like (optional).
6. Bring it back to a boil and cook for another 15 minutes until cabbage is softened and potatoes are cooked.
7. If you want to add cooked meat, do so now (this is totally optional).
8. Serve with a tab of butter on top. We also enjoy eating crusty bread with herb butter and dipping it into our colcannon soup.

2. Pumpkin White Bean Chili (Modern)

Chili is such a comfort food, and I feel we all need comforting every day of our lives. Even on Samhain. And so do our ancestors. Add pumpkin to your chili for an interesting, Autumnal spin on a classic chili. Here’s our favorite pumpkin white bean chili recipe which also contains healthy ground turkey and fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme. This dish will be a scream (pun intended) at your next Samhain feast!

3. Harvest Veggie Soup

Since Samhain is considered the Last Harvest, it’s only right to make and enjoy a pot of Harvest Vegetable Soup. There are two wonderful things about this Samhain soup: one, it is Vegan. And two, it’s super healthy.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large diced yellow onion
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 6 cloves finely chopped garlic
• 3 carrots, diced
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 tablespoon Italian blend seasoning
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
• 4 cups finely chopped kale leaves (remove the stems)
• 1 large tomato, diced

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and salt, and cook, stirring often until the onion is softened and starting to brown. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add carrots, celery, and Italian herb blend. Cover and cook, removing lid to stir often until the vegetables are starting to brown and sizzle about 7 minutes.
2. Add wine, increase heat to high, and cook, stirring until the wine is almost completely evaporated approx. 5 minutes.
3. Add broth and sprig of rosemary and bring to a boil. Add squash and return to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low or to maintain a simmer, and cook until the squash is tender, but not falling apart approx. 12 minutes.
4. Add kale and tomatoes and stir until the kale is wilted into the soup. Cook until the kale is tender, 4 to 5 minutes longer. Serve with crusted bread. Don’t forget to share a portion with your ancestors!

4. Butternut Squash Soup (Modern)

There are three ingredients I always keep on-hand for Autumn meals and Samhain: apples, pumpkin, and butternut squash. I consider this the trifecta of Harvest foods. And you better believe I’ll throw all three of these into a Samhain soup or stew and call it a meal! Seriously, try making this butternut squash soup for Halloween and see how you like it. It makes a great lunch or dinner time dish.

5. Corn Chowder Soup

Mmm, who doesn’t love a good chowder? Corn is a symbol of the harvest season, and Autumn in general, and its sweet flavor tastes amazing as a contrasting flavor in a savory soup. Add some bacon and jalapeno peppers and you have the makings of a delicious meal. Try this recipe by Natasha’s kitchen.

Samhain Stews: Hearty and Filling Recipes

Believe it or not, there is a difference between soup and stew. In soup, the liquid is the dominant ingredient over the solids. Whereas in stew there is less liquid and the solids are the dominant component. In my opinion, stews are more filling and hearty than soups. And the great thing about stews is that you can use the leftovers in other recipes. Here are a few of our favorite Samhain stew recipes:

1. Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sausage, Thyme and Sage (Modern)

Someone only has to say the word gnocchi and I’m there with a spoon. Two of Samhain’s staples are potatoes and wheat. Mix them together and make a dumpling out of them and you have Gnocchi. And oh my gods put that gnocchi into a soup made of butternut squash and sausage. You have the makings of the best Samhain stew you’ve ever had in your life. Your ancestors will thank you at your next Dumb Supper if you feed them this!

2. Guinness Beef Stew (Traditional)

Because Samhain is Celtic in origin, we often consider Irish dishes as traditional Samhain cuisine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I prefer to make Irish dishes on Samhain to honor my Irish ancestors (side note: I make Norse and Germanic foods during Alfablot and Disablot to honor my Norse ancestors). But let’s talk about the beef…stew. Guinness beef stew isn’t just hearty, it contains the Irish beverage we all know and love – Guinness! Try out this Guinness Beef Stew recipe this Samhain.

3. Dublin Coddle (Traditional Samhain Stew)

Another common Samhain stew is called Dublin Coddle. If you like sausages and potatoes, this is the right recipe for you and your family. This is a modified recipe that I make from the Complete Irish Pub Cookbook by LoveFood / Christine McFadden.

Ingredients:

• Bacon, 1 pound
• 8 sausages, pork or turkey
• 4 onions, sliced
• black pepper, 1/2 tsp
• 1 leek, sliced (white and some green)
• 2 bay leaves
• Thyme, 2 sprigs
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 6 potatoes, pelled and cut into 3 large pieces
• 3 cups chicken stock
• Soda bread (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook the bacon and preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Drain the bacon on paper towels.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the sausages for about 15 minutes, turning throughout. Remove the sausages from the skillet and cut in half widthwise, set aside.
4. Using the sausage skillet, cook the onions for 6 minutes until just softened but still white.
5. Layer the onions, sausages, and bacon in bottom of a baking dish or dutch oven. Season each layer with a bit of salt and the pepper. Add the leek, herbs, and garlic and finish with layering the potatoes. Season more with the pepper then pour over the stock.
6. Cover the dish and bring to a boil on top of the stove. Transfer to the preheated oven and cook for 45 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
7. Serve with soda bread or some other crusted bread to sop up the juice.

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