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Soup is good for us in so many ways. They are a great way to work a variety of vegetables into your diet, without overdosing on salads, alah... a vegetable soup! A hot bowl of chicken soup is comforting when we're sick, plus it's easy on the stomach. Soups can be hot or cold, creamy or chunky, and perfect for any novice or experienced cook to have fun with.
Soup recipes are in general, very forgiving. You can easily substitute ingredients or change the amounts and still have a great-tasting soup. If your soup is too thick, you can simply add more broth or water. If it is too thin, just let it simmer with the lid off for awhile to let it thicken up.
One thing that you must be careful about is when you're adding seasonings. Adding too much pepper, chili powder or salt cannot be fixed, except by adding more of everything else to compensate. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by adding seasonings in small amounts and tasting frequently until you get the taste you're looking for.
One way to make your soups more special is by preparing your own stocks and broths. Stock is made by simmering chicken, meat or fish bones in water with spices and vegetables. You will get a more flavorful broth than store bought canned or boxed versions, plus you can control the salt content yourself.
Many people put their soup recipes away when summer time rolls around. Just because it's hot out doesn't mean you have to give up soup! There are many cold vegetable soups that you can try out, for instance this potato soup is delicious either cold or hot. Many people are familiar with creamy onion flavors of Vichyssoise, or the spicy, tomato based Gazpacho. In fact, summer is one of the best times to make soups, since the vegetables are so fresh. Find some new recipes for cold soups and give them a try.
I love hearty soups in the winter. They are so nourishing. A vegetable bean soup is one of my favorites!
If you want to try something different, try some soups from a different culinary tradition. Russian borscht is a beet soup that can really warm you up on a chilly day. Chinese style egg-drop soup or sizzling rice soup are surprisingly simple and easy to make. Vietnamese pho is a beef soup that has many different variations and tastes you can enjoy.
If there's one thing about soup recipes, it's that there are endless possibilities. With some frozen homemade stock in your freezer, you can make any kind of vegetable or meat soup and have a great meal in no time. Get out your soup recipes and get ready to make a healthy and satisfying dinner tonight. |