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The base of soup is just like the bottom half of a delicious sandwich. It binds everything together and makes it interesting. Without a good base, your soup can taste bland or boring. That means using the right ingredients to formulate a good soup base.
Soup typically starts with a mirepoix: onion, carrot, celery. These vegetables bring an intense, savory flavor to your soup. When you cook them in a pot with an ounce or two of oil or butter, they release their natural sugars, which begin to caramelize. This gives it a rich, earthy flavor that will take your soup to the next level!
Then, you can season your broth with some herbs and spices. Herbs such as thyme, rosemary and bay leaves can impart a fresh smell to your own soup. Spices such as pepper, garlic and paprika can help people heat it up a bit and add flavor. Just don’t go overboard or your soup might be too concentrated.
You can also boost the flavor of your soup base by adding meat or bones. For instance, if you are making chicken soup, you might begin by browning chicken pieces in your pot. It’ll create a deep flavor that will blend into the rest of your soup. P.S. You can also save bones from leftover meat to use for a homemade broth. The bones you used to boil the soup — just boil them in water for a couple of hours and you have a tasty base.
A third way of making your regular soup base into something delicious is to use broth or stock. The broth is made by boiling meat and vegetables in water, and stock is made by boiling bones and vegetables. They are both high in flavor and can elevate the flavor of your soup. Broth and stock are available at the grocery store, or you could make your own at home for something special.
Just as when you throw together soup, you want your base ingredients to cook low and slow. This allows time for connectivity and a flavorful broth. You can also pour a little wine or vinegar into your pot to enrich the flavor even more. And as always, season your soup base with salt and pepper. This combines all the flavors and give the soup an amazing taste.
If you are looking to amp up your soup, you can play with what goes into the base. One full fat cream, like coconut milk, for a rich flavor (great to add to curry soup). Or you might roast your vegetables first, then stir them into your soup base to give it some smoky character. These are just a few ideas, so be creative and make other combinations!
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