Ina Garten Eats This Whenever She Has a Bad Day

The Barefoot Contessa has a preferred comfort meal she loves.

Ina Garten is a beloved figure, known for her holiday menus and personal favorites, as well as her soothing presence on Barefoot Contessa and social media. She often reassures us that it’s okay to use store-bought ingredients and celebrates quick and easy recipes with a cheerful “How easy is that?”

Recently, I had the pleasure of listening to Ina Garten’s memoir, “Be Ready When The Luck Happens,” and found it to be a delightful experience. Hearing her narrate her life story and guiding principles was incredibly comforting, making it one of my favorite celebrity memoirs.

Ina excels at making people feel at ease, and I imagine that if I were having a rough day, she would whip up her ultimate comfort meal for me.

So, what is Ina Garten’s go-to comfort food? She generously shares her favorite recipes, including her preferred dessert (French apple tart), side dish (farro salad), and even knife brand. During an episode of TODAY, she revealed that her favorite comfort meal is butternut squash and apple soup, a top-selling dish at her Barefoot Contessa store in the Hamptons. This soup is truly exceptional, and I’m thrilled that Ina Garten agrees.

According to Ina, the key to this soup’s delicious flavor is the addition of apple cider vinegar and curry powder. The apple cider vinegar is stirred in at the end, off the heat, allowing you to adjust the sweetness to your liking. Meanwhile, the curry powder provides a rich warmth and depth to the dish.

I’ll definitely be saving this recipe for a rainy day. It pairs beautifully with crusty bread and a glass of wine, but you could also enjoy it with a classic grilled cheese sandwich or even butternut squash mac and cheese. No matter how you serve it, make sure you have reruns of Barefoot Contessa playing in the background for the full experience.

Related reads:
– Ina Garten’s Preference for Extra-Large Eggs Explained
– The One Ingredient Ina Garten Avoids in Recipes
– Our Attempt at Ina Garten’s Lemon Capellini—Her Ultimate Weeknight Dinner