Homemade soups

@Anne18 (11029)
September 25, 2011 10:59am CST
How to you make your homemade soups taste nice? Mine always tend to taste quite bland and I was wondering how you people spice up your soups to make them taste more tastier? In the past I have added soy sauce, brown sauce etc but there must be other ways to make the soup come alive?
3 people like this
20 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
25 Sep 11
Hello Anne. Depending on what kind of soup I'm making I start with a good broth. You can get instant broth in jars that's what I add even if I have a broth. I also add some herbs too. Getting the right amount of salt is important. Then toward the end I like to add a little bit of hot sauce. Just enough to give it a little punch but not enough to make it spicy hot.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
26 Sep 11
I find I like washabi better because the doesn't last long after eating it like cajun heat does.
@oXAquaXo (607)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Ah yes, hot sauce! Hot sauce makes everything better. My dad's from Shi Chuan, China, and they eat a lot of spicy food there, so I get it from him. I've grown up eating spicy foods and love it still! Spice always adds a creative aspect to the food and makes it more alluring. Maybe it's just me, but it makes it more appealing and creative, and makes me want to try it more. It would be just boring if it was an ordinary dish, but adding some chili would definitely liven it up. ...which is why I love cajun sauce! Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@jeannames (303)
• Turkey
25 Sep 11
yes I like soup. I made soup. Especially I like traditional soup. Example: tarhana soup, ezogelin soup, yogurt soup etc...
@oXAquaXo (607)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Yogurt soup? I don't know man...
• Turkey
26 Sep 11
Materials:yogurt, salt, minton, flour, butter, water,salt, thin noodle, red pepper, First saucepen put on 3 tablespoon flour and 5 tablespoon yogurt . mixed . This one look like crema. Added water, salt, and thin noodle(5tablespoon thin noodle). Boiling. Other saucepen , added butter, minton, red pepper, Mixed this one. 60 second after, this saucepen, otther saucepen added. Then mixed. Enjoy meal
@mehale (2200)
• United States
28 Sep 11
I have found that the secret to a good soup is a good broth to start out. Then you build on that broth with garlic, onion, etc. If I was going to make a beef soup for example, I would start out with a strong beef broth and then add both fresh and powdered onion and garlic (we like a lot of garlic in my house lol), and then build from there with the meat and veggie additions. Also cooking over low to medium heat slowly will help increase the flavor. Hope this helps.
@celticeagle (168478)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Sep 11
I love to make soups. I start with a good base that sometimes is saved from other dishes and the water from vegetables. I add herbs to this and then add in vegetable and/or meats. I add oats and rice sometimes also. Let is cook in its own juices and let the added bits get tender.
@celticeagle (168478)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Oct 11
Thanks for the BR!
@Humbug25 (12540)
27 Sep 11
Hey Anne18 Basically what I do is add a stock cube or two to the water I am boiling the vegetables in with some mixed herbs.
@mariahhh (1328)
• United Arab Emirates
11 Oct 11
I don't make soup but my sister does. I don't how she cooks them, but it is really good. She cooked vegetable soup, broccoli soup, mushroom soup, and chicken soup. I saw her one time. She used the blender to cook the mushroom soup. Maybe to make the texture soft. It was really yummy!
@peavey (16936)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Chefs usually start with a broth, and it's usually chicken broth, no matter what soup they're making. Then add spices according to what's in the soup. Decide on a flavor type and go from there. For instance, if I have spaghetti or macaroni in a soup, I often use garlic, onions and oregano. If I have beans or peas, I use ham or bacon flavors and if I have a basic beef stew, I use lots of black pepper and thicken it with corn starch. Don't forget the salt.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
26 Sep 11
The trick to making a good soup is to have a good broth and plenty of spices. I like to have some spice in my broth and then add more when I add the fresh vegtables that I want to add to it. I am thinking of making some vegetable soup this month or next, as the weather is starting to get cold here.
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
26 Sep 11
The ingredient for me that makes my soups work best is a chicken base called Better Than Bouillion. It is also available in Beef and Vegetable varieties, but I've not used them. I also sweat my mirepoix veggies first by sauteeing lightly; I think it adds more flavor. I correct for seasoning herbs, salt and pepper as I go and again at the end. Many soups end up bland because they are too watery. Also pureeing some of the contents adds body to the soup.
@sunli123 (538)
• China
26 Sep 11
I can only make some simple soups, like vegetables soup and fish soup etc. Usually I don't add too many ingredients in it as they would cover the original taste of the soup, which I think is the best.
@aghiuta (525)
• Canada
26 Sep 11
When I make soup,I usually add Chicken soup base( I buy that in the grocery store).I taste the soup and adjust accordingly.If you do not have that handy,just take an envelope of chicken soup,and add it to yours.It also depends on the kind of soup you make!
@shrmanoj (382)
26 Sep 11
Home made soups are very tasty, trusted and special for anyone. I always like to have homemade soup and sometimes I myself prepare soup for my family.
• India
26 Sep 11
We do not make always the soup but sometime we make, WE make only tomatoes soup we all like it very much and nothing special i put in it only that things which are in booklet so nothing special ya and became taste and nice to have it
• India
26 Sep 11
You can prepare soups tastely at home by adding more vegetables, leafs, corn and pepper to it. It will be really nice to taste them at home.
@GardenGerty (160998)
• United States
25 Sep 11
I use lots of herbs and spices. Some soups get extra garlic and onions. Sometimes a splash of vinegar or lemon juice will do the trick. I like warmer spices like cumin, turmeric, chile powder.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
25 Sep 11
salt. this is what will give you the flavor. then add herbs and spices reflective of the soup you are making. If you use bouillion, be sure to account for the heavy salt there.
@oXAquaXo (607)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Soups are my favorite kind of food to make! They're simple and easy, and they're my favorite kind of food. Back to the topic. I usually go to the Asian market and pick up a can of chicken soup base. It's kind of like this grainy stuff, almost like tiny pellets, that you can add to water to create a semi-artificial chicken flavor. It's AMAZING, and saves you time so you don't actually have to make chicken soup and then add it to your soup...that would just be dumb and a waste. Or you can buy cans of chicken soup to add...either way. But usually the chicken soup base is cheaper and lasts longer. So I usually add some of that to get a more rich, delicious flavor. Sometimes I add some cooking creme if I want soups that are more creamy, and I add some milk or sprinkle in Parmesan cheese. Sometimes I add some brown vinegar to give it a more tangy flavor. I also experiment with salt and pepper, and chili pepper, and sometimes even sesame seed oil. It all depends on the soup...some combinations would go better than others. Good luck!
@oldchem1 (8132)
25 Sep 11
My favourite soup is pea and ham soup. I buy a ham shank for between £1 and £1.50 and cook it in the slow cooker until the meat is tender and falls of the bone. Very often (depending on the size of the ham shank) there is enough ham on the bone to make a good sandwich as well as the soup. I leave the stock to stand overnight so that I can scoop all the fat off the top to make a healthier soup. Then I just put chopped onion,sliced carrots, soaked dried peas, plenty of pepper (you don't need salt as the ham is salty enough)and some mixed herbs into the stock with the chopped meat and some more water and cook it down until it makes a lovely thick hearty soup. It is a cheap, healthy, filling and delicious; I often serve it with small herby dumplings to make it a meal in itself with a big piece of crusty bread!!
@oldchem1 (8132)
25 Sep 11
Firstly sauté your chopped onion, garlic and vegetables(and meat if using it)for at least five minutes to bring out the flavour. Then add a good stock - you can use stock cubes or bouillon or make your own. Use plenty of freshly chopped herbs and plenty of salt and pepper to get a good taste. Worcestershire or soy sauce also helps to give a good flavour to a soup.
• United States
26 Sep 11
sometimes i put sugar in mine i like alot of sugar and i add hot sauce to make it a little more tastier and flavorier i am not a great cook and i do not eat alot of soup so that just might have to be a trial and error kind of thing if i were you i would divide the soup up into small portions in different bowls and then add a different ingredient to each bowl and taste it see what tasts good and helps the soup and see that makes the soup worse