The weather is erratic. The sun that shines extraordinarily hot in the morning can suddenly be replaced by overcast clouds that itch to pour rain during the day. In addition to making laundry difficult to dry, this kind of weather will also make it easier for you to fall ill. Do not rush to take medicine! If the body starts to feel unwell, it's a good idea to first overcome it by eating a warm and nutritious soup dish. What else but a bowl of soup! The easy way to make it and its delicious taste make this dish very popular in all ages. Basically, soup is divided into two groups, namely clear soup and thick soup. Although it is easier to buy it at a restaurant, of course making your own soup will be much more economical and healthy because the quality of the ingredients is guaranteed. Interested in making it for your loved ones?
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Clear Soup
Step 1. Decide what kind of soup you want to make
If making soup is unfamiliar to you, clear soup may be the safest option. Besides being very easy to make, this type of soup offers a light taste and is comfortable on the stomach. Want to make a healthy bowl of vegetable soup? Or soup with nutrient-rich broth? Make your choice before you start cooking!
Step 2. Prepare the necessary materials
There is no end to discussing the delicious ingredients paired with clear soup. But if you're still a beginner, the following ingredients are worth a try:
- Potatoes, peas, kidney beans, and carrots are basic ingredients that are commonly used as fillings for soups. Try using other types of vegetables such as chopped celery, tomatoes, and corn to enhance the taste and aroma of your soup.
- Use chopped onions to make your soup more delicious. Before adding to the soup, stir-fry the onions and garlic until the aroma comes out and the color turns brown. This will enhance the aroma and taste of your soup. Meanwhile, chopped fried shallots and spring onions are suitable for sprinkling when the soup is cooked.
- Noodles go well with all kinds of soupy dishes. In addition to adding flavor and texture to the soup, noodles serve as a source of carbohydrates that make your soup more nutritious and filling.
- If you want to add meat to the soup, make sure the meat is thoroughly cooked and cut into small pieces. Also make sure you choose the right type of meat for your soup.
- If using nuts, make sure you soak them in water first until they soften in texture. Nuts include ingredients that take a long time to ripen and soften. Soaking it first will make it easier to cook when cooked.
Step 3. Prepare the broth
There are many ways you can try to produce a delicious broth. One that is commonly done is to boil animal bones overnight. Through this process, the minerals contained in the bones will be broken down and completely absorbed into the soup. There's nothing more healthful than a warm, nutrient-dense broth, right? Chicken and beef bones are most often used to make broth. But you can also use fish bones, goat, pork, or even shrimp shells to make an equally delicious variant of the broth!
- are you vegetarian? Don't worry, you can still make delicious broth using chopped vegetables; Put the chopped vegetables in a pot of cold water, cook on low heat with the spices until the vegetables taste and the sauce boils. Voila! A pot of no less delicious vegetable broth is ready for you to eat.
- According to some nutritionists, animal bones should be boiled for 12-48 hours on low heat to produce the best quality broth. This process is allegedly able to "break down bones, release all nutrients, and make the collagen, gelatin, and glucosamine contained in them more easily digested by the body".
- In addition to bones, oxtail can also be used to make broth.
- If you don't have a bone supply at home, you can buy it at the traditional market or the nearest supermarket. Some meat stalls even deliberately sell bones separately to make broth.
- Don't want to bother? You can skip this process and buy instant broth which is widely sold in the market or nearest supermarket.
Step 4. Season the broth with spices to taste
There are many ways to spice up soup, but the simplest is to add salt, pepper, garlic, and a little chopped celery. If you like, you can add other spices such as nutmeg powder and chopped fried onions.
Try adding a chicken leg or two to the broth. Some people are reluctant to eat chicken feet for various reasons. But believe me, chicken feet that are rich in gelatin will actually make your broth more concentrated, fragrant, and savory. If you don't want to eat or serve it, you can set the chicken feet aside when the broth is cooked
Step 5. Add other stuffing ingredients after the broth is cooked enough
Remove the bones, then put a variety of favorite vegetables that you previously cut into small pieces into the broth. Cutting vegetables into small pieces makes vegetables cook faster and softer, making them easier for people of all ages to eat. Enter in order from largest to smallest (for example, add potatoes and meat first, followed by peas and corn). Do this process so that all the soup ingredients can be cooked perfectly.
Step 6. Boil the soup and its contents in a covered saucepan for about half an hour or until the vegetables are soft and the meat is cooked through
Every now and then, stir and taste your soup. If it still tastes bland or lacks seasoning, add salt and pepper until the taste is to your liking.
Step 7. Serve your homemade soup in a serving bowl
Even though it's a little inconvenient because you have to boil the broth overnight, believe me, all your hard work will pay off when a bowl of warm, delicious and healthy soup is successfully served in front of you!
Step 8. Store leftover soup in the freezer
Clear soup soup will stay in good condition even if you store it for a few days in the freezer. Suitable for those of you who don't have time to update the food menu every day, right?
Method 2 of 2: Making Thick Soup
Step 1. Decide what kind of soup you want to make
Puree soup made from various mashed vegetables is a type of thick soup that is commonly made. Often, thick soups are distinguished by the thickening agent (such as cream or milk) and the filling. If you're not experienced at making thick soup, try starting with a puree, which is simple and very easy to make. Prefer the texture and taste of creamy soup? Although it's a little more complicated, you can also make a bowl of warm and delicious cream soup at home!
Basically, the stuffing ingredients for thick soup vary widely. But keep in mind, not all ingredients are suitable to be combined with the type of thick soup you choose. If you're not sure what kind of mix will work, don't worry. Today, you can find hundreds of soup recipes on the internet. One recipe that has proven its delicacy is mushroom cream soup
Step 2. Puree the ingredients that will be the basis of your puree soup
Pureeed vegetables are the most common base for pureed soups; Boil your favorite vegetables until they are soft, put them in a food processor or blender and process until they have a paste-like texture. Bring the water to a boil, add the vegetable paste to it, stir until well combined.
- Although the amount of vegetables used will depend on how thick you want the soup to be, try adding 600 grams of vegetables to 1 liter of water. This is the most common measure for making a puree soup of medium consistency.
- In addition to vegetables, you can also make meat-based puree soups by mashing or chopping cooked meat. Compared to vegetables, meat has a sharper taste and aroma, and contributes a unique texture to your soup puree.
- Don't have a food processor or blender? Don't worry, you can still make thick soup by relying on thickening agents such as milk or cream. Add meat or vegetable stock to enhance the flavor and texture of your soup. Certain vegetables, such as mushrooms and corn, are delicious as fillings for creamy soups without having to be mashed first.
Step 3. Add your favorite vegetables and spices to your soup
It's the same as when making clear soup, put in the large stuffing first so that all the stuffing ingredients can be cooked evenly. Spices like onions and garlic go well with thick soups.
Step 4. Add thickening agent
This is where you have to decide what kind of thickener you want to use, and your decision will greatly affect the texture and taste of the soup. Some examples of thickeners worth trying:
- Roux. A roux is a mixture of flour and fat (such as butter) used to thicken various soups. How to make it very easy; Cook the flour and butter in a frying pan or Teflon over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter melts and is well mixed with the flour. Make sure you cook the roux until the flour turns a little brown, indicating that the flour is done. Adding a roux to soup is the best way for those of you who don't want to eat cream or milk. If you really can't eat dairy products, replace butter with cooking oil.
- Grated raw potatoes. Use a grater to grate the potatoes directly into the pan. Stir well for 5-10 minutes or until the desired consistency is reached.
- Cream or milk. Cream is the main ingredient for making cream soup. To avoid clumping, preheat the cream or milk in the microwave. Add 125 ml of cream or 250 ml of milk to 1 liter of soup just before the soup is consumed.
- Egg yolk. For 1 liter of soup, add about 4 egg yolks. Beat eggs until smooth, add 1-2 tbsp. Dip the soup into the egg mixture, beating again well before pouring it into the pot of soup. You need to do this process because the eggs will be cooked and lumpy if you put them directly into the soup that is being cooked.
- Flour. This option is perfect for meat-based soups. Add a few tbsp. flour into your beef stew and in no time the texture will thicken.
Step 5. Boil the soup for a few hours on low heat
Every now and then, stir and taste the soup to make sure it's to your liking. If it still tastes bland or lacks seasoning, add a little salt and pepper. To strengthen the taste and aroma of the soup, you can also add chopped celery or fried onions.
Step 6. Beautify the appearance of your soup
Even though it's called home-cooked soup, adding a garnish will elevate your soup to a restaurant-grade level! Add garnishes that not only enhance the appearance of the soup, but also make it even more delicious. Here are some examples of decorations that are worth trying!
- Slices of bread or tortillas. Eat the bread with the soup when the bread has absorbed the soup and has softened in texture. Very tasty!
- A sprinkling of chopped dried ham will enrich the texture and flavor of your soup.
- Grated cheddar or parmesan cheese is great for sprinkling on top of creamy soups. In addition to beautifying the appearance, grated cheese will also contribute a very delicious savory taste.
- Chopped vegetables. Even if your soup already contains a variety of vegetables, there's nothing wrong with adding chopped fresh vegetables to the soup's surface.
Step 7. Serve your homemade soup in a serving bowl
While the clear soup has a light and homely taste, the thick soup provides an elegant and luxurious taste like a restaurant-style dish. If you are interested in making a creamy soup, add the cream just before the soup is consumed. Soups with thick soups (especially those with cream) tend to go stale faster than clear soups. If you don't want to eat it right away, store the soup that hasn't been thickened in the freezer. Add the thickening agent just before the soup is consumed.
Tips
- Make a large batch of soup to serve for a week. This step is much more practical than having to make a new soup every day. Basically, clear soups or those that don't contain cream can last for months if kept in the freezer. Reheat the soup just before serving.
- Cooking is an art. If your first try ends up not being very tasty, don't despair. Observe carefully what is missing on the first try. Maybe your soup lacks salt? Or the flour that is the basis of the roux hasn't been cooked until it's cooked? Learn from mistakes and make more delicious soup next time!
- Feel free to criticize your cooking. Every now and then, taste the soup you're cooking. Don't be satisfied with the taste and texture! Keep asking, is the salty taste just right? How about the savory taste? Do you need to add more parsley to make it smell fresher? This will make it easier for you when making soup the next time around.
- Although there is no absolute serving portion because it really depends on the thickness of your soup, the recommended serving portion for one person is around 350 ml.
- There are thousands of soup recipes available on the internet. Browse through the recipes to find new and unique variations to add to your soups!
