Soup is an important course in every meal. It acts as an appetizer and allows the stomach to soften and prepare for the next meal. It is a high source of fibers and can prove to be a rich source of nutrients.
Having soup before your meals also promotes a feeling of fullness and can help curb overeating and binge eating habits.
There are several reasons why you should make your soup at home. Canned soups are loaded with preservatives which may cause more harm to your body than help it. Preparing your soup at home allows you to control the ingredients present in the mix and alter the taste according to your desire.
If you are new to the kitchen and do not know how to prepare soup from scratch, here are the 5 steps to make easy and nutritious soup at home-
Soup At Home Recipe
- Born from the Broth
- Adding a Source of Protein
- Adding Vegetables
- Select a Starch
- Add Seasonings
Born from the Broth
The broth acts as a base for all your ingredients and provides a background flavor for your soup. It brings together all the ingredients in the soup. There are several types of broth such as chicken, beef and vegetable broth.
Beef broth can be used for beef stew or beef and barley soups. Chicken broth is perfect for chicken noodle soup and seafood chowders. A vegetable broth is the best base for vegetable and bean soups.
Canned broth, bouillon, and powdered soup bases are available at any grocery store. There are numerous options to choose from, each with a different flavor and texture. Once you find a brand you like, there is no going back!
Start with six to eight cups of broth and then add as you go along. Let it simmer as you add other ingredients to it.
Adding a Source of Protein
Every ingredient that is added to a soup should be chopped into spoon sized pieces so that it is easier to eat. Some ingredients might need to be precooked and while this might require some prep work, it will be worth your while.
Cut your meats into bite-size pieces and brown them in a pan before adding them to your soup. This gets rid of the layer of the extra fat, creating a leaner soup.
Clams or other types of seafood can be fresh or you can use a pre-cooked, canned version.
If you are looking for vegetarian alternatives to meat, dry beans and lentils should be cooked ahead of time. You can also buy canned beans that are ready to use.
Pour canned beans into a colander and rinse them before adding them to your soup to remove any excess sodium.
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Adding Vegetables
The way to make the healthiest soups is to add a lean protein source, lots of colorful vegetables, and sometimes a source of starch is added to the mix. This makes it a balanced meal in a bowl.
There’s an almost endless list of vegetables that can be included in a healthy soup. Some examples of vegetables that can be added to your broth are carrots, onions, green beans, kale, celery, broccoli, parsnips, zucchini.
They’re all good because they’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
Tomatoes and mushrooms are good for soups too. If you want to add a source of starch, you can add potatoes, noodles or rice.
Select a Starch
To make sure that it provides some energy, add a source of starch to the mix. Potatoes are prepared just like the other vegetables.
Choose red potatoes and try to avoid the Russets because they’re too starchy and will fall apart in your soup. Leaving the skin on the potatoes adds fiber to your soup which can slow down the starch conversion to glucose that can spike blood sugar levels.
Instead of adding potatoes, you can add another starch, such as barley, pasta, or rice. Don’t add too much because these will expand as they cook. Generally, about one cup of dry starch is enough for a serving. You can also add them later and cook them long enough to make them tender.
Add Seasonings
If this soup still feels a little drab and it can be spruced up with some delicious seasonings. It’s often best to let your soup simmer for a while and add the seasonings toward the end.
This allows the flavors of your proteins, vegetables, and starches to develop and you’ll have a better idea of how much seasoning to add.
The most common seasonings that blend well with any soup are thyme, oregano, sage, parsley, and bay leaf. Remove bay leaves before serving the soup. If the broth you selected contains high levels of sodium do not add salt or use it sparingly. Black pepper can also be added to add to the taste.
Finally, let your soup simmer until it’s ready to eat, then serve it with a nice little salad and some fresh bread.
This soup can be prepared well in advance and can be stored in the refrigerator to make sure that you can enjoy your recipe multiple times without having to cook it over and over again. If you are freezing this recipe, leave some more space in the jars or containers that you intend to use.
Adding this soup to your meals will increase the number of healthy nutrients that you consume during the day and it is one of the best options for appetizers when you are on a strict diet or wish to control what you eat and switch to a healthy lifestyle. Try this recipe today!
