Depending on the ingredients, soup can be a hearty chunky concoction served in rustic style or a silky, creamy dish fit for even the most refined setting. Hot or cold the possibilities for soup creations are endless.
Tips for Creating the Perfect Homemade Soup
A good soup has a strong and hearty flavor. Ingredients such as garlic, tomatoes or onions can give flavor to a simply prepared soup. These types of ingredients will give any type of liquid you add to your soup the best flavor and appeal.
Another way to enhance the flavor of your soup is by using a well flavored stock. Stocks are made by using raw vegetables, meats or fish. Place the ingredients into a stock pot with water and allow them to simmer until the liquid becomes infused with the hearty flavors.
Once the stock has simmered, strain it well and use it as the base liquid for homemade soup. Stocks are best when made in large amounts and frozen for later use. This not only saves money, but time too because you don’t have to wait for the stock to be prepared before you begin putting together the soup itself.
Water is always acceptable in place of stock when making homemade soup. Just remember when you use water the soup will have less of an infusion of flavor and less body. That doesn’t mean your soup will be bland and boring. Simply, create the flavor you’re looking for with herbs and spices.
Wondering how much stock to use for a pot of soup? Using 8 ounces of stock per person will prove to be the perfect amount.
There is something to be said about having a bowl of chicken soup when you are feeling under the weather. Comforting and warming soups can supply us with everything our bodies need to make it though a long cold winter. So, head to the kitchen and see what you can come up with to create your own homemade soup today.
