The perfect bowl for chilly days or when you’re feeling run-down, this Spicy Ginger Scallion Soup delivers warmth, flavor, and healing benefits in every spoonful. Infused with aromatic ginger, garlic, and scallions, it’s the kind of dish that comforts and revives at the same time.
What makes this soup a standout is its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients and a 20-minute cook time, it’s ideal for busy weeknights or a quick lunch. Plus, you can customize it—add rice noodles, tofu, or shredded chicken for a heartier meal. Whether you enjoy it spicy or mild, this soup will quickly become a cozy staple in your kitchen.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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1 tablespoon sesame oil
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1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
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2 garlic cloves, minced
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6 green onions (scallions), sliced – white and green parts separated
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4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
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1 tablespoon soy sauce
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1 teaspoon rice vinegar
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1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
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1 teaspoon chili oil (optional)
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Salt to taste
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Fresh cilantro or additional scallions for garnish
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Optional: cooked noodles or rice for serving
Directions:
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In a medium pot, heat sesame oil over medium heat.
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Add the white parts of the scallions, ginger, and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
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Pour in the broth and bring to a gentle boil.
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Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if using). Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
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Taste and season with salt as needed.
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Remove from heat. Stir in the green parts of the scallions and drizzle with chili oil if desired.
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Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro or more scallions. Serve as-is or over cooked noodles or rice.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
Kcal: 95 kcal | Servings: 2 servings
A Nourishing, Flavorful Broth for All Seasons
Spicy Ginger Scallion Soup is more than just a dish; it’s an invitation to comfort, health, and simplicity. While it’s particularly soothing during cold weather or when you’re under the weather, this soup has the flexibility and lightness to be enjoyed year-round. With bold flavors from ginger, garlic, and scallions, it brings a deeply aromatic profile to your table in the form of a healing, broth-based soup.
What makes this soup special is its roots in simplicity. Drawing inspiration from East Asian culinary traditions, this soup uses pantry staples to deliver a bold taste with minimal effort. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’re doing something good for your body, even when you’re short on time or energy. Whether served on its own or poured over a bowl of rice or noodles, it’s a meal that satisfies both body and soul.
The Power of Ginger and Scallions
Ginger and scallions aren’t just flavoring agents—they come with a history of being used for their health benefits. Ginger is widely known for its anti-inflammatory and digestion-supporting properties. It’s often used to soothe nausea, ease cold symptoms, and help with bloating and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Scallions (or green onions), on the other hand, bring in a sweet oniony flavor without the bite of a traditional onion. Nutritionally, they’re a good source of vitamins A, C, and K and have antibacterial properties that support immune health. Together, these two ingredients build a flavorful foundation for the soup while simultaneously offering therapeutic value.
A Soup That’s Friendly to All Diets
One of the best aspects of this soup is how easily it adapts to various dietary lifestyles. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or simply aiming for a lighter meal, this soup has a place in your weekly menu.
Use a good-quality vegetable broth for a fully plant-based version, or a bone broth for a boost of collagen and protein. The soy sauce can be swapped for tamari or coconut aminos if you’re avoiding gluten. And for those wanting a little more heft to the dish, it pairs beautifully with tofu, shredded chicken, or a soft-boiled egg on top. You can also serve it over cooked noodles, jasmine rice, or even quinoa to turn it into a heartier main dish.
Balanced Heat and Customizable Spice
One of the most appealing features of this soup is how easily the spice level can be adjusted. The base recipe calls for chili oil and optional red pepper flakes, but you can add or omit these depending on your tolerance for heat.
If you love bold spice, a few dashes of extra chili oil or a slice of fresh Thai chili can elevate the heat level and bring a more intense zing to the broth. On the other hand, those who prefer mild flavors can skip the spice altogether and still enjoy a deeply aromatic and warming bowl of soup.
This adaptability makes the recipe excellent for families or groups with varying spice preferences. Serve the soup mild and offer chili oil or hot sauce at the table so everyone can customize their own bowl.
Healing Qualities of Warm, Brothy Soups
In cultures around the world, warm soups are considered some of the most nurturing and healing foods. This soup, with its light broth and intense aromatics, is particularly helpful when you’re dealing with cold symptoms or just need to warm up from the inside out.
The warmth of the ginger helps open up sinuses, while garlic acts as a natural antibiotic. Scallions bring a comforting depth, and the hot broth itself aids digestion and hydration. It’s a perfect remedy when you feel the first signs of a cold, or even as a preventative, immune-supporting meal during cold and flu season.
Ideal for Meal Prepping and Leftovers
If you’re someone who enjoys prepping meals ahead of time, this soup is an excellent option. It stores well in the fridge for 3-4 days, and the flavors continue to develop as it sits. You can make a big batch and portion it into containers to grab during the week for a quick lunch or light dinner.
To add variety, you can switch up the garnishes and add-ins with each serving. One day you can have it with rice noodles and bok choy, the next day with tofu cubes and sesame seeds, and the next with chicken and spinach. This way, you never get bored, even if you’re eating the same soup for multiple days.
A Minimalist’s Dream in the Kitchen
For anyone who values cooking without complication, Spicy Ginger Scallion Soup is the kind of minimalist recipe that delivers maximum impact. With only one pot and a handful of basic ingredients, cleanup is a breeze. It’s the kind of soup you can throw together even on a chaotic weeknight or when you don’t feel like cooking.
Despite its simplicity, it has a depth of flavor that often surprises people. That comes from the careful layering of aromatics—ginger and garlic sautéed in sesame oil, followed by broth and umami-rich soy sauce. It’s a technique that takes little time but delivers big flavor.
A Versatile Dish for Every Season
Although often associated with winter or sick days, this soup works wonderfully in spring and summer as well. Because it’s not cream-based or overly rich, it’s light enough for warm-weather enjoyment—especially if served with fresh herbs or a squeeze of lime for brightness.
You can make the soup as light or filling as you’d like by adjusting what you serve with it. A smaller bowl might be a first course before a stir-fry or salad, while a larger serving with noodles or rice can easily become a complete meal.
Great for Entertaining or Solo Meals
This soup also makes a thoughtful appetizer for dinner parties, especially for guests with dietary restrictions. Its elegant simplicity allows it to pair well with a wide range of main dishes, from grilled seafood to tofu stir-fry.
But it’s also the perfect solo meal—something you can curl up with on the couch while watching a show or reading a book. Because it comes together so quickly, it’s perfect for those nights when cooking feels like a chore, but you still want something homemade and nourishing.
Conclusion
Spicy Ginger Scallion Soup is a masterclass in simple, restorative cooking. It’s deeply flavorful, surprisingly easy to make, and adaptable to a wide variety of diets and tastes. Whether you’re looking to boost your immune system, warm up on a cold night, or just make something fast and wholesome, this soup delivers.
Its nourishing qualities, minimal ingredients, and elegant flavor profile make it a standout in any home cook’s recipe rotation. As versatile as it is healing, this is a bowl of comfort that you’ll find yourself coming back to time and time again. And once you try it, you may just find it becomes your new go-to when you need a little warmth—inside and out.