Stephen Colbert’s “Kindergarten Soup” Recipe Sparks Pure Nostalgia!

Don’t let the playful name mislead you—there are no classroom supplies in this dish! “Kindergarten Soup” is a robust, flavorful beef and vegetable soup, a creation from Stephen Colbert, the host of The Late Show. Interestingly, the recipe originates from Colbert’s own kindergarten experience!

In his early schooling days in Charleston, South Carolina, Colbert’s school cafeteria chef involved the children in simple kitchen tasks, such as peeling peas and trimming green beans. Afterward, they would sketch and label the ingredients they used.

After young Colbert took his drawing home, featuring vegetables and “meat”, his mother was so enchanted by it that she decided to frame the artwork. She also started cooking the soup depicted in the drawing for Colbert and his siblings, making it a beloved meal in their home.

The Charming Origins of “Kindergarten Soup”

In the fall of 2024, Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evie, released their cookbook, Does This Taste Funny?. During an episode of The Late Show that year, Colbert revealed that the 2020 quarantine inspired the cookbook project.

Stuck at home during the pandemic with restaurants closed, the Colberts delved into their family recipes. Evie surprised Stephen with the Kindergarten Soup recipe, written in crayon and framed, during a Facebook video.

They went on to publish the recipe, complete with the original crayon drawing, in their cookbook four years later.

What Goes into Kindergarten Soup?

The soup is packed with ingredients like cubed chuck roast, which becomes incredibly tender when simmered. It’s seared in oil first to develop a rich flavor, followed by layers of peas, onions, okra, celery, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, beef stock, and butter beans. A simple seasoning of salt and pepper is all that’s needed.

The finished soup is hearty and colorful, reminiscent of traditional school cafeteria offerings. It’s a nostalgic dish that brings back memories of classic vegetable beef soups, with a depth of flavor akin to beef barley soup or a hearty beef stew.

This recipe yields a generous 11 cups, and Colbert notes in his cookbook that it freezes exceptionally well, perfect for meal planning.

Crafting Colbert’s Kindergarten Soup

Lacking fresh okra at my local store in Massachusetts, I opted for frozen. To prevent it from becoming too soft, I added the okra late in the cooking process, along with the peas. Canned butter beans were also used in my version.

The soup tends to thicken quickly, especially as it cools. It’s a good idea to keep some extra beef broth handy to thin it out during or after cooking if necessary.

It was heartwarming to learn about the caring school cook and how Colbert’s mother cherished his childhood recipe, turning it into a treasured family tradition.

Consider preparing this recipe with children, letting them handle tasks like peeling carrots and adding tomatoes to the pot. It’s a great way to involve them in cooking and to build a sense of pride in the delicious results.

You can find the recipe for Kindergarten Soup in Does This Taste Funny?, available at local libraries. For a visual guide, watch Colbert prepare the soup on The Drew Barrymore Show.