Soup is one of the oldest and most versatile foods in the world, says Janet Clarkson, author of Soup: A Global History. "Every culture has soup. It has very ancient roots," she said. Here are CNN's nominations for the world's best soup.
1. Banga | Nigeria
Banga is so popular in Nigeria that shops sell ready-made spice packets. Fruit from the oil palm trees adds flavor to this Niger Delta soup, which also features fresh catfish and dried seafood. Spices are infused with a rich red sauce that is the main attraction of the soup: soaked in a dollop of starch, both Nigerian staples are made from tapioca and prepared in different ways.
2. Pho | Vietnam
Cook the broth with cinnamon, star anise, and other spices for hours to give the rice noodle soup a great aroma. Pho is one of the most recognized culinary delights in Vietnam. While today's pho restaurants offer a variety of flavors, they are original.
3. Paella | France
The bouillabaisse is a fisherman's stew, distilling classic Mediterranean flavors into a synonym for the coastal city of Marseille. Saffron, olive oil, fennel, garlic, and tomatoes are mixed with fresh sea fish. According to the signatories of the Seafood Soup Charter of 1980, the most authentic recipes must include at least four types of seafood selected from monkfish and crab.
4. Cape Verde | Portugal
Thinly sliced vegetables are combined with potatoes and onions in this homemade soup from the Minho region of Portugal. In many versions, adds an undercurrent of smoky, savory flavors that make the soup more refreshing.
5. Chupe de camarones | Peru
This creamy shrimp chowder is a specialty of Arequipa, a historic city surrounded by towering volcanoes. Cold nights in the mountains are perfect for a hearty dish: tender shrimp swimming with chunks of Andean potatoes and corn. It also has a kick.
The addition of ajíamarillo (a chili pepper with a hint of fruitiness) adds a satisfying spice to balance the rich and creamy ingredients.
6. Gazpacho | Spain
Summers in Andalusia is hot, and it's perfect to cool off with a bowl of this salad vegetable soup. Today's most classic version includes tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, and olive oil, with some stale breadcrumbs added for the body.
The Arabs brought the dish to the Iberian Peninsula centuries ago, and the Spaniards tasted the New World's tomato ingredient. It turned out to be a mixture of bread, garlic, and olive oil, mashed in a mortar and then seasoned with vinegar.
7. Tom Yum Kung | Thailand
Sweet, sour, spicy, and salty, this savory broth is the ideal combination for sweet and tender shrimp. Aromatic ingredients include galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, and bright red bird's eye chili shards add heat. Tom Yum Soup is just one of many soups in Thailand, and this version, rich in prawns, is a favorite of many diners.
