Everyone has their favorite type of soup that comforts and nourishes them. But if you’re ready to see what else is out there, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to popular types of soups.
What are the 3 categories of soup?
Thick Soups
Thick soups usually have a creamy texture to them thanks to a roux of butter and flour. They can also be thickened after their ingredients have been pureed.
Thin Soup
Thin soups are characterized by the fact they start with a thin stock or broth. Within the category of thin soups, there are actually three further subcategories.
Passed Soup
To further enhance the clarity of thin soups, they are often passed through a strainer or cheesecloth, removing any solid pieces.
Unpassed Soup
Unlike passed soup, unpassed soup has not gone through a strainer, although it is still very thin.
Cold Soup
Cold soups become thickened thanks to the use of meat gelatin.
International Soup
The category of international soups is very broad. Basically, they can be in any form and just mean they are from a unique culture that is not American.
Different Types of Soup
Tortellini Soup
Whether you’re a vegetarian or a carnivore, there is a version of tortellini soup for you. The soup can be both a cream-based version and a tomato-based one.
Tortellini are cooked in the soup and then vegetables, such as tomatoes and squash are added, or if you prefer, Italian sausage.
Corn Chowder
Vegetarians will love this creamy soup. Instead of its similar clam version, corn chowder makes sweet corn kernels the real star. The soup usually has potatoes and plenty of cream.
Split Pea Soup
While we don’t often eat food that has turned green, an exception can be made for split pea soup. Start with dried, split peas and then boil them.
Add fresh peas and puree the mix. Other ingredients include ham and vegetables.
New England Clam Chowder
This version of clam chowder, which hails from New England, has a rich, creamy texture to it. Along with clams, you can expect chunks of potato and carrots in the soup which starts with a clam broth.
Beer Cheese Soup
If you’re a cheese lover then you’ll be ecstatic about beer cheese soup. This is a creamy delicacy that pairs German beer and melted cheese.
Add a crunchy aspect to the soup by sprinkling croutons or pretzels on top.
French Onion Soup
While raw onions can be a lot to handle, in French onion soup they become quite sweet. The onions are caramelized in a beef broth with plenty of wine.
The soup is then finished by adding a large crouton and plenty of gruyere cheese that melts when you bake the entire dish.
Cucumber Soup
Cold and refreshing, cucumber soup is a staple of summer. You can choose to cook the cucumbers first, or add them raw.
Be sure to puree the soup and leave it in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. You can add lemon, yogurt, and herbs as garnish.
Italian Wedding Soup
While you won’t actually find Italian Wedding Soup at a wedding, it does do an amazing job of marrying flavors. The meatballs and the escarole, which is similar to kale, pair wonderfully, along with an abundance of fragrant herbs.
Manhattan Clam Chowder
While this soup has clams as its star, it is much different from its New England counterpart. Manhattan clam chowder instead has a tomato base for its soup and in addition to clams, celery, carrots, and peppers are added.
Matzo Ball Soup
To begin preparing matzo ball soup, you will need to know what matzo is. It is a traditional unleavened bread, primarily used in Jewish cuisine.
Take matzo meal and form it into large balls. Then, boil these matzo balls in chicken soup.
Chicken and Rice Soup
While chicken noodle soup is quite popular, many people prefer the texture of chicken and rice soup. The rice is usually a mix of wild rice and there are thick chunks of carrots and celery to round out the soup.
Gazpacho
It’s a common understanding that soup should be hot, but that is not always the case. If you are looking for something refreshing on a hot summer’s day, then gazpacho could be what you’re looking for.
Gazpacho is made from a blend of vegetables including peppers, cucumber, and tomato.
Beef & Barley Soup
Dense in nutrients, beef & barley soup will really satisfy you. Barley is a grain full of vitamins and minerals.
While some versions only use beef broth in their recipe, you can also add thin slices of beef.
Pasta e Fagioli
A distant cousin to minestrone, paste e fagioli is a bit simpler to make. Its main ingredients are macaroni noodles and beans, with garlic, onions, and rosemary enhancing the flavors.
Cream of Chicken Soup
Another comfort staple, cream of chicken soup will really warm you up. It is made from chicken and uses a thick, creamy base.
Other ingredients include potatoes, carrots, and even cream cheese.
Bouillabaisse
At first glance, bouillabaisse looks like a mash-up of seafood. However, it does contain a light broth, classifying this dish as a soup.
You can add seafood delicacies such as clams, fish, and lobster, and then cook them in a thin broth with vegetables and spices.
Zuppa Toscana
Coming from Italy, Zuppa Toscana has a lovely creamy base to it. Inside the soup, you will find ingredients such as Italian sausage and kale. It is usually finished with grated parmesan cheese.
Navy Bean and Ham Soup
Chances are that your grandmother may have made this soup. Navy bean and ham soup is perfect when you have leftover ham from a family meal.
The inclusion of navy beans makes this soup full of nutrition.
Potato Soup
Another great comfort soup, potato soup has a simple base that can be catered to each unique taste. The soup uses boiled potatoes to create a rich, creamy soup, and then can be garnished with your favorite toppings such as onions, bacon, and cheese.
Chicken Dumpling Soup
There are many ways to create chicken dumpling soup and your preference usually depends on what you’ve grown up with.
The soup itself is a thinner broth with chicken and carrots. Then, dumplings, which are like biscuits, are added.
You can either add whole dumplings to the soup or slice the dough into thin strips.
Butternut Squash Soup
When butternut squash are ripe in the fall, it becomes the perfect time to make this creamy soup. Start by roasting your squash along with other vegetables such as carrots and potatoes.
Once everything has been cooked, chop the vegetables into pieces and puree the entire mix. The addition of cream makes this an even richer soup.
Cream of Mushroom Soup
While this soup is often found in a can, it is actually pretty easy to be made from scratch. Cream of mushroom soup has a creamy base and is made with a blend of mushroom varieties.
Miso Soup
A Japanese favorite, miso soup is a thin broth with chunks of miso, which is made from soybeans. Other ingredients include seaweed and anchovies.
Borscht
It’s said that in order to eat healthy you should include all the colors of the rainbow. If you’re missing purple, then borscht is a great meal to eat.
Made from beats, borscht can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
With Mexican origins, chicken tortilla soup is a real comfort food. It begins with a chicken broth that can be quite spicy.
Then, crispy tortilla pieces are added before the soup is garnished with sour cream, avocado, and fresh chilies.
Tomato Soup
When you step inside from a cold winter’s day, having a bowl of hot tomato soup will surely warm you up. This simple, staple of a soup is best served with a few herbs sprinkled on top, and ideally, with a grilled cheese sandwich.
Minestrone Soup
If you want to ensure you’re getting your daily intake of vegetables, minestrone soup is a good place to start. It is full of hearty vegetables such as potatoes, squash, green beans, and zucchini.
Egg Drop Soup
Quite literally, egg drop soup is made by dropping eggs into the soup. A raw egg is whisked into hot chicken or vegetable broth.
The result is a thickened soup with subtle flavors.
African Peanut Soup
Found throughout Western Africa, African peanut soup is creamy and spicy. Start with crushed peanuts and add tomatoes and spices.
Chicken Noodle Soup
This soup is the best answer when you’re feeling sick. Everyone has their own take on chicken noodle soup, but the primary ingredients, including chicken, noodles, and a medley of vegetables, are the same.
Add some earthy herbs for your own unique taste.
What is the best kind of soup?
Aah, if only there were an answer to this question. With so many types of soup to choose from, it is impossible to decide on just one best kind.
Our advice is to sample different soups all year round so you can really get to know the delectable choice of flavors.
Conclusion
Soups can be enjoyed year-round. There are rich, creamy soups for winter, cold, refreshing soups for summer, and everything in between
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