• Home
  • Services
    • Wedding Catering
    • Corporate Event Catering
    • Breakfast Catering
  • Mexican and Tex-Mex
    • Loaded Nachos
    • The Staples of Mexican Food
    • Cheese Enchilada
    • Turkey Empanadas
    • Empanadas with Cheese and Spinach
    • Breakfast Quesadilla
    • The Art of the Tortilla
    • Cuban Mojo Chicken
    • Shredded Chicken Tacos
  • Cocktails and Drinks
    • The Punch Bowl
    • How Much Alcohol You'll Need For Your Party
    • Port Wine
    • Bloody Mary and Spicy Pepper Margarita
    • Blood Orange Margarita (with Habanero)
    • Eggnog Cocktails
    • Strawberry Mojito and Strawberry Daiquiri
    • Airplane Daiquiri
    • French and German Wines
    • Mango Mai Tai
    • Mexican Coffee
  • Desserts and Sweets
    • Layer Cakes
    • Chocolate Nut Gateau
    • Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
    • Molten Chocolate Cake
    • Chocolate Pudding Squares
    • Peanut Butter Pie
    • Tips for Buttercream Frosting
    • How to Bake Macarons
    • Chocolate Fudge
    • Making Chocolate Pie
    • Red Velvet Bundt Cake
    • Types of Pies
    • Red Velvet Cheesecake and Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Oreo Cheesecake
    • Pumpkin Crumble Pie
    • How to Make Cinnamon Rolls
    • Dessert Flavors
    • Cappuccino Brownies
    • Meringue Cookies
    • Baking Cheesecake
    • Skillet Super Cookie
    • Turtle Cheesecake
    • How to Bake Chocolate Cake
    • Tips For Baking Cookies
    • No-Egg Cookie Dough
    • How To Bake Cupcakes
    • Pineapple Coconut Chess Pie
    • Homemade Snickers Bar
    • Apple Empanadas
    • Nutella Cheesecake
  • Burgers
    • Black Bean Burger
    • Barbecue Ranch Burger
    • Bacon Burger
    • Blue Cheese Burgers
    • Sloppy Joes
    • Swiss Onion and Mushroom Burger
  • Meat and Fish
    • Beef Pot Roast
    • Benefits of Slow Cooking
    • Chicken Liver Mousse
    • Poached Chicken à la Crème
    • Beef Tenderloin and Squash Soup
    • How to Butter Baste Meat
    • Herb Roasted Chicken
    • Making Chicken with Orange Liqueur
    • How to Cook Chicken
    • How to Cook Salmon
    • Paleo Salmon Cakes
    • Chicken Meatballs
    • Spiced Beef
    • Thanksgiving with Whoopi Goldberg
    • 11 Ways to Cook
    • What is Slow Food?
    • Basics of Soup
  • Bread and Starches
    • Pasta with Cajun Chicken
    • Bread-Making Terminology
    • How to Cook Pasta
    • How to Cook Grits
    • Baking Bread
    • Cheesy Chicken Pasta Casserole
  • Eggs and Cheese
    • Poutine
    • Blue Cheese Spaghetti Sauce
    • Soufflé
    • How to Make the Croque Monsieur
    • Baked Mac and Cheese
    • Avocado Grilled Cheese
    • Big Grilled Cheese
    • Deviled Eggs Recipe
    • Ham and Cheese Omelet
    • How to Scramble Eggs
    • How to Cook Eggs
    • Fondue Ideas
  • Asian
    • The Tradition of Bibimbap
    • Chicken Satay
    • Sweet Coconut Balls
    • Making Dumplings
    • Fried Wontons
    • Chicken Kababs
    • Chicken Triangle Appetizers
    • Flavored Yogurts
    • Spiced Roast Lamb
    • Shrimp Dumplings
  • African
    • Moroccan Chicken Bastilla
    • Kefta Briouat
  • Middle Eastern Dishes
    • Chicken Shawarma
    • Turkish Cigarette Pastries
    • How to Make Falafel
    • Turkish Coffee
  • Entertaining and Catering
    • Catering Venues
    • How to Be a Host
    • Easy Entertaining Ideas
    • Summer Party Ideas
    • French Service
    • Catering a Buffet
    • The Catering Customer's Needs
    • Ambience in Entertaining
    • Flowers for Table Decoration
    • Ideas for Serving Appetizers
    • Spring Lunch
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Services
    • Wedding Catering
    • Corporate Event Catering
    • Breakfast Catering
  • Mexican and Tex-Mex
    • Loaded Nachos
    • The Staples of Mexican Food
    • Cheese Enchilada
    • Turkey Empanadas
    • Empanadas with Cheese and Spinach
    • Breakfast Quesadilla
    • The Art of the Tortilla
    • Cuban Mojo Chicken
    • Shredded Chicken Tacos
  • Cocktails and Drinks
    • The Punch Bowl
    • How Much Alcohol You'll Need For Your Party
    • Port Wine
    • Bloody Mary and Spicy Pepper Margarita
    • Blood Orange Margarita (with Habanero)
    • Eggnog Cocktails
    • Strawberry Mojito and Strawberry Daiquiri
    • Airplane Daiquiri
    • French and German Wines
    • Mango Mai Tai
    • Mexican Coffee
  • Desserts and Sweets
    • Layer Cakes
    • Chocolate Nut Gateau
    • Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
    • Molten Chocolate Cake
    • Chocolate Pudding Squares
    • Peanut Butter Pie
    • Tips for Buttercream Frosting
    • How to Bake Macarons
    • Chocolate Fudge
    • Making Chocolate Pie
    • Red Velvet Bundt Cake
    • Types of Pies
    • Red Velvet Cheesecake and Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Oreo Cheesecake
    • Pumpkin Crumble Pie
    • How to Make Cinnamon Rolls
    • Dessert Flavors
    • Cappuccino Brownies
    • Meringue Cookies
    • Baking Cheesecake
    • Skillet Super Cookie
    • Turtle Cheesecake
    • How to Bake Chocolate Cake
    • Tips For Baking Cookies
    • No-Egg Cookie Dough
    • How To Bake Cupcakes
    • Pineapple Coconut Chess Pie
    • Homemade Snickers Bar
    • Apple Empanadas
    • Nutella Cheesecake
  • Burgers
    • Black Bean Burger
    • Barbecue Ranch Burger
    • Bacon Burger
    • Blue Cheese Burgers
    • Sloppy Joes
    • Swiss Onion and Mushroom Burger
  • Meat and Fish
    • Beef Pot Roast
    • Benefits of Slow Cooking
    • Chicken Liver Mousse
    • Poached Chicken à la Crème
    • Beef Tenderloin and Squash Soup
    • How to Butter Baste Meat
    • Herb Roasted Chicken
    • Making Chicken with Orange Liqueur
    • How to Cook Chicken
    • How to Cook Salmon
    • Paleo Salmon Cakes
    • Chicken Meatballs
    • Spiced Beef
    • Thanksgiving with Whoopi Goldberg
    • 11 Ways to Cook
    • What is Slow Food?
    • Basics of Soup
  • Bread and Starches
    • Pasta with Cajun Chicken
    • Bread-Making Terminology
    • How to Cook Pasta
    • How to Cook Grits
    • Baking Bread
    • Cheesy Chicken Pasta Casserole
  • Eggs and Cheese
    • Poutine
    • Blue Cheese Spaghetti Sauce
    • Soufflé
    • How to Make the Croque Monsieur
    • Baked Mac and Cheese
    • Avocado Grilled Cheese
    • Big Grilled Cheese
    • Deviled Eggs Recipe
    • Ham and Cheese Omelet
    • How to Scramble Eggs
    • How to Cook Eggs
    • Fondue Ideas
  • Asian
    • The Tradition of Bibimbap
    • Chicken Satay
    • Sweet Coconut Balls
    • Making Dumplings
    • Fried Wontons
    • Chicken Kababs
    • Chicken Triangle Appetizers
    • Flavored Yogurts
    • Spiced Roast Lamb
    • Shrimp Dumplings
  • African
    • Moroccan Chicken Bastilla
    • Kefta Briouat
  • Middle Eastern Dishes
    • Chicken Shawarma
    • Turkish Cigarette Pastries
    • How to Make Falafel
    • Turkish Coffee
  • Entertaining and Catering
    • Catering Venues
    • How to Be a Host
    • Easy Entertaining Ideas
    • Summer Party Ideas
    • French Service
    • Catering a Buffet
    • The Catering Customer's Needs
    • Ambience in Entertaining
    • Flowers for Table Decoration
    • Ideas for Serving Appetizers
    • Spring Lunch
  • About Us
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

The Basics of Soup

In this post we have an excerpt from a book all about soup. The book is titled (fittingly) "The Soup Bible," and is written by Publications International, Ltd. Here is the excerpt, with some basic tips and items to have stocked if you are interested in making some great soup:
Tomato basil soup with garnish
Introduction
It all began with a few bones and vegetables thrown into a primitive pot with some water and wild herbs. Soup evolved as a staple all over the world and local specialties developed as cooks used the ingredients that were available to them. While it is now truly international fare, soup remains true to its original form – simple to make and full of flavor.
The wonderful thing about soup is not just the wide range of flavors and textures that can be achieved. It is enormously versatile and can be a light lunch, a palate-pleasing starter, or a one-pot meal. And with shortcuts such as good-quality bought stock, soup is a great fast food for busy people.

The Basics
Making soup is easy. But it helps to have some good basic equipment. A 4-5 quart heavy-based saucepan with a lid is indispensable for all soup recipes. You will also need a fine sieve through which to strain the liquid back into the saucepan for thin soups.

An electric blender, food processor, hand-held blender or food mill are also invaluable. The texture of a soup will vary according to which of these you use: a blender (or hand mixer) produces a smooth purée; a food processor or food mill, a coarser purée. A hand mixer is particularly convenient, as you can do all the work in the saucepan. It is always best to cool the soup a little first before blending. Make sure that you do not overfill the blender or food processor.

Storing Soups
Soup is the perfect fare for busy cooks, because it stores well. Most vegetable-based soups will keep in the refrigerator for three to four days. Soups containing meat, seafood and poultry can be stored for two to three days. Keep the soup in an airtight container, or in a bowl covered with cling-wrap. Soups also freeze well.
 
Pantry standbys
With a few basics in your pantry or refrigerator, you can whip up a soup in no time at all when you bring home the fresh ingredients. A shortlist:

PANTRY
·       olive oil
·       good-quality bought stock (boxes, pouches)
·       canned chickpeas and beans (e.g. cannellini)
·       legumes, especially dried beans and lentils
·       grains, especially rice, pearl barley and couscous
·       mini toasts
·       onions, garlic, potatoes
·       dried herbs, especially bay leaves and thyme
·       spices, from basics such as peppercorns (and celery seeds, which are a convenient substitute for fresh celery) to the special flavors of your preferred cuisines

REFRIGERATOR
·       celery, parsley, carrots and fresh ginger
·       (freezer) ravioli or other small filled pasta, especially cheese filled
 
Special Ingredients
These ingredients were substituted with their US counterparts throughout the text:
·       Beetroot – Beet
·       Capsicum – Pepper
·       Celeriac – Celery Root
·       Coriander – Cilantro
·       Risoni – Orzo
 
Extra touches
You can turn plain soups into something special, with a simple garnish and or accompaniment. Here are a few suggestions.
 
CRUNCH APPEAL
Toasted piece of bread add texture and contrast to purée soups.
Croutes are thin slices of bread (traditionally a French baguette, but you can use just about any European-style loaf) brushed with olive oil and baked in a preheated oven (350°F) for 8-10 minutes until crisp and brown. Rub garlic or other seasonings into the bread before or after baking for more flavor.
Croutons are cubes of bread fried in oil until crisp and brown. Alternatively, you can bake them on a lightly oiled tray in a preheated oven (350°F) for 4-8 minutes or until well colored. For garlic croutons, rub with a clove of garlic right after cooking.

- From "The Soup Bible," by Publications International, Ltd.


TOS
Disclaimer
​Privacy Policy