Soup is primarily acidic food, usually served hot or warm, which is prepared by blending together various ingredients of vegetables or meat with water, and stock. Usually, hot soups are also characterized by steaming raw ingredients in fatty liquids in a large pot until the flavours are extracted, creating a thick broth. To make soup from scratch, soup dumplings or other curries, are available in various varieties, tastes and colours. To enhance the hotness of soup, the food should be served immediately after removal from heat source. Soup is also considered one of the world’s most frequently eaten foods, and the variety of soup dishes are continuously increasing.
Among the world’s famous and most popular soups is Chinese soups, namely stir-fried chicken or duck, and egg rolls. In Szechuan, a province in China, chicken or duck is first boiled in water to remove the fat before being layered with ginger, garlic and onion, while being blackened. Then, it is deep-fried and served.
Hungarian pastry soup Totono is made from a mix of meat, fresh vegetables, potatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers and onions simmered in lukewarm water. The meat used is not cleaned prior to cooking. As a result, the mix of vegetables takes on a flavour of its own and simmers down, almost like an instant soup. Fish, such as carp, is added in the last few minutes to the mixture to preserve its flavour. Fish that are used to prepare this dish typically get the recipe from the region where they originally come from.
Italian soup flavourings can be used with ‘Agnus Castus’ and are best known for their creamy texture, which is often served hot. It is made using butter, onions, garlic, and seasoning. Often served alongside lasagne, this soup can also be served cold. Especially thick soup, it often has whole meat bones in it.
Butternut squash soup A thick soup that often has bits of bone in it, butternut squash soup is very filling, especially when served hot. It is best eaten with bread. It goes well with all kinds of cheeses. In many cases, a butternut squash soup recipe will call for butternut squash seeds, which must be roasted until they become tender. To get the full flavour of the squash, use the skin as garnish. In Italy, this soup is often served at dinner, often following a meal that uses pasta.
There are many variations on this theme. One variation is genmaicha, which is a rice beverage that is flavoured with Chinese black fungus and vegetables. This soup can be a substitute for the classic chicken dish. With its heavy flavour, it is not a good idea to use it as a main course; however, it can be enjoyed whenever it is served.
Other types of soup include Spanish broth (or barbecue), Italian broth, Greek soup, and also Japanese soy bean soup. Each type of soup has its own character, which is often affected by the season. During the cooler months, chicken and/or fish make excellent base recipes for soups. As the summer heats up, use vegetables, mushrooms, and other meat and seafood instead.
Potage is the French term for small pieces of game. It can be beef, pork, or venison. Typically, potage is used in combination with rice and vegetables. The thicker the meat, the thicker the soup will be.
If you want to try something new, you can use beef broth in place of water or stock when creating soups. This makes a very thick soup that is flavoured with either beef or pork. You can also get recipe books and cookbooks that list all of the different types of stock available for cooking purposes. You can then create soups that have a wide range of flavours, as long as the ingredients used are the same.
For a lighter version of soups, consider using vegetable stock instead of water. Vegetable stock comes in various flavours and textures. Use it as a thickening agent and then stir in any cooked meat or seafood with vegetables at the end. You’ll have a great bowl of soup in no time! It’s satisfying to know that you’ve created something light and healthy without having to go to the store.