10 Ingredients to Make Your Soup Even More Awesome (2024)

Kelli Foster

Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor

Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.

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published Jan 6, 2015

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10 Ingredients to Make Your Soup Even More Awesome (1)

When I make homemade soup I like to separate my ingredients into two categories. There are the basic building block ingredients, like veggies, herbs, meat and stock, that form the general structure of the soup. Then, there’s my favorite category — the flavor boosters. These ingredients are key for a really flavorful soup, though they can easily be overlooked.

Some of the very best ways to load your soup with rich layers of flavor are basic ingredients; here are 10 that you probably have in your pantry right now.

10 Pantry Staples that Make Soup Even More Awesome

1. Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors.

2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that’s ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup. This works especially well with meat-based soups.

3. Fish Sauce – Commonly used in Asian cooking, fish sauce has a strong smell, though when used judiciously its taste is neither strong nor fishy. Instead, a spoonful will add a wonderful, savory umami twist to your bowl.

4. Anchovy Paste – The thought of anchovies used to make me completely cringe. I’m way past that now. This savory, umami-packed paste has become my secret weapon in the kitchen.

5. Harissa – Whether you make your own or use a jarred version, this North African chili paste is how I like to add a little heat to my soup. Stir in a spoonful (or two, if you like a lot of heat) early on in cooking, just after sautéing the vegetables.

6. Chipotle Peppers – Canned chipotle chilies packed in adobo sauce are a small yet mighty way to add rich, smoky flavors to any bowl of soup.

7. Curry Paste – Red and green Thai curry paste just might be one of my favorite ways to flavor soup! This spiced blend adds depth of flavor and just a little kick. Mix it early on in cooking to give the flavors more time to develop.

8. Pesto – Pesto isn’t just for summertime! Mix a spoonful of frozen pesto into a chunky vegetable soup, or use it as a garnish to dress up bright pureed soups.

9. Miso Paste – It’s not just for traditional miso soup! Use this salty, richly-flavored soybean paste liven up your favorite soup variety.

10. Coconut Milk – You don’t need a recipe for soup with coconut milk; just stir in a cup or two to finish any soup. Use this fragrant addition to put an Asian spin on your chicken noodle soup, or make a pureed vegetable soup, like butter squash or carrot, even creamier.

Try these flavor-packed soups!

What are your favorite ways to add more flavor to soup?

10 Ingredients to Make Your Soup Even More Awesome (2024)

FAQs

What ingredients improve soup? ›

You can extract a clean, strong broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand—bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parmesan rind, and, of course, kosher salt.

How do you make soup even better? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

What makes a great soup? ›

To make sure that every spoonful of soup is richly flavored, with juicy meat and/or tender vegetables, follow these kitchen-tested tips.
  1. Use a Sturdy Pot. ...
  2. Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  3. Start with Good Broth. ...
  4. Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  5. Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  6. Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  7. Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

What is the important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What gives soup a good taste? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

How do you make soup taste fuller? ›

Use aromatic vegetables, like carrots, celery and onions. Adding some egg noodles or pasta can make the soup more thicker and turn it into a complete meal as well. Add some fresh herbs of your choice to add another layer of flavour to your dish.

How do you make soup taste deeper? ›

You can add a head of garlic when you make the broth. Just slice it in half crosswise to expose the cloves and toss it in the pot. Some other ingredients I like to use include tomato paste, anchovy paste and Marmite. Each of them adds depth in a different way, and they are all interesting.

How do you make soup super smooth? ›

An immersion blender will do a fine job of puréeing your soup. You may want to skip the food processor, however. They're great for making chunky sauces, like pestos, but can't handle much liquid, and won't blend the vegetables as smoothly as a blender.

What are 6 qualities of a good soup? ›

A good soup should be full-flavored, with no off or sour tastes. Flavors from each of the soup's ingre- dients should blend and complement, with no one flavor overpowering another. Con- sommés should be crystal clear. The vegetables in vegetable soups should be brightly colored, not gray.

What are the 7 things soup does? ›

There is an Italian saying: “La zuppa fa sette cose.” It means “Soup does seven things.” Soup quenches thirst, satisfies hunger, fills your stomach, aids digestion, makes teeth sparkle, adds color to cheeks and aids sleep. In other words, soup cures most, if not all human ills.

What is the No 1 soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

What ingredient can be added to a soup to make it thicker and richer? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What are the 3 basic categories of soup? ›

There are four main categories of soup: Thin, Thick, Cold and National. These types of soup are widely recognised in today's modern kitchen.

What are three facts about soup? ›

Soups can be consumed hot or cold, depending on the climate of the region where it's being served, and flavors can be sweet or savory. Americans eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup each year. The most popular soup variety in the U.S. is chicken noodle.

What is added to the soup to enrich it? ›

Herbs and sources add flavor, aroma, and intensity to the soup broth. You can pick fresh or dried herbs like basil for tomato-based soups or fresh parsley for clear broths. You may also add more spices like turmeric, ground ginger, ground paprika, or nutmeg for a touch of spice and color to your soup broth.

How do I add more nutrients to soup? ›

4 ingredients that can add nutrients to your soup
  1. Pumpkin Seeds. Pumpkin seeds have great taste and texture, making them a perfect topping for a variety of soups. ...
  2. Lentils. Lentils are an excellent plant protein option and are rich in flavor and color. ...
  3. Roasted Chickpeas.
Mar 1, 2024

What makes homemade soup healthier? ›

7 smart tips for making a healthy soup

Use more vegetables in your soup than meats or grains. Add fresh herbs at the very end of cooking. Add milk to stocks to make a creamy soup. Add it after the vegetables are soft cooked.

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