From creamy tomato to spicy noodle bowls, these are six pre-autumn soups you can make this week.

• Autumn in South Africa brings unpredictable weather, with warm days and cool evenings.
• It’s the perfect time for lighter, comforting soups that help ease the shift between warmer and cooler days.
• From creamy tomato to spicy noodle bowls, these six soups are just right for this time of year.

It is officially that awkward time of the year when those sunny days and balmy evenings have become increasingly scarce.

Suddenly, we are in that slightly confusing stretch of the year where dinner needs to be comforting, but not in the kind of heavy, slow-simmered food we associate with a deep, bone-chilling winter way.

Soups fit that brief perfectly, and not the thick, stick-to-your-ribs kind just yet, but lighter bowls that are still satisfying enough to take the edge off a cool evening.

From hearty vegetable soups to brothy noodle bowls and a classic seafood stew, these six recipes offer the perfect middle ground this week.

Creamy tomato and basil soup with sourdough croutons 

Crunchy sourdough croutons add texture and soak up the soup, making spoonfuls of this tangy tomato-and-basil soup even more satisfying.

Pea soup

A generous scattering of feta cheese on top is all it needs to turn this handful of pantry ingredients into a bowl that is fresh, but wholesome and comforting.

Light coconut milk and broccoli soup

This silky, warming umami soup is still fresh and vibrant enough for these not-quite-winter evenings.

Broccoli soup with chicken and pasta

Tender chicken, small pasta and broccoli come together in a comforting soup that’s filling but light enough for an easy weeknight dinner.

Bouillabaisse

Traditionally made with fish, shellfish and a saffron-scented broth, bouillabaisse is aromatic, flavourful and perfect when you’re in the mood for something a little more special.

Spicy noodle soup

Slurpable noodles soaking in a fragrant broth infused with chilli, garlic and ginger, bringing just enough heat to warm you from the inside out.