If you think making soup is difficult, think again. Many kinds are very simple, especially if you do a little prep work ahead of time. Your tools are most important. You need a heavy stockpot. You can find these at many places for a wide range of prices. You really do not need to spend a lot, just make sure the bottom is sturdy so you do not end up burning it.
If you like to make creamy verities, you should get an immersion blender. Also known as a stick blender, it can be put right into your hot mixture and used to puree the ingredients into a thick, wonderful soup. Make sure you get one powerful enough to do the job.
Broth is the most important ingredient when you make soup. If you use water, you will never get your soups to realize their full flavor potential. When adding liquid to your soup, always use stock or broth. Bouillon cubes can be used in a pinch, but watch the salt content. A potato can help remove excess salt.
Cook your vegetables a bit first to help them release their flavor. You can saut them in a pan or roast them in the oven. Make sure your solid ingredients are cut into bite size pieces. Use as many vegetables as you like. Root crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and rutabagas are full of delicious goodness and taste great in soup. Leafy greens like kale, collards, and cabbage also hold up well in soup and add a lot of flavor and nutrition.
If you are adding soft ingredients like rice or noodles, wait until the soup is almost done. Rice needs ten to twenty minutes to soften. Do not use quick rice, it will disintegrate in the soup. Noodles take five to ten minutes. Adding them too early will give you mush in your soup.
If you want to make
easy recipes for French onion soup, use some broth you already have on hand. Caramelize your onions and let them simmer in the broth for half an hour. Add your other seasonings during this time. Top each serving with toasted bread and hot bubbly cheese. Who says French onion soup is hard to make?
When you have leftover vegetables, bag them, and put them in the freezer to add to soup later. You can do the same with leftover meats. Always be sure to date your leftovers and drop them in the freezer as soon as possible. Whenever you need another filler for your quick pot of soup, just reach into the freezer and grab one or two to add to the kettle. Making soup was never so easy. In fact, you can make an entire soup this way in less than a half hour.
Now that you know how easy it can be, you will be able to enjoy it whenever you want and avoid all the salt and preservatives that are added to canned versions. Fresh soup is a treat to eat. It warms you and makes you feel cared for. Your family will love sitting down to a bowl of hot homemade soup.
More Information:
An
onion soup bowl will make serving your French onion soup easy. Make sure it is oven proof so you can set it under the broiler to melt the cheese. Each person gets their own bowl prepared perfectly with this bubbly crust. Serve it with a glass of wine and a salad.
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