Home made soup - help!

[Pixelpeep 135]

Second attempt this weekend. got some proper liquid chicken stock, put loads of veg in it, sautéed first, tiny cubed chicken pieces.

it was horrible.

This is the second time i've tried it and the second time i was awful.

I am desperate to get some veg into me and the missus (ooo errr) and bulk making soup seemed the perfect solution, given that we are both working professionals and don't normally start cooking until 7pm ish.

Does anyone have a tried and tested, easy to follow either veg, tomato or chicken soup recipe i could try please? It's getting desperate now!

[geeks]

Are you tasting as you go? Soup is pretty hard to get wrong but if you arent seasoning it and tasting as you cook it up it might not be what you expect.

I make a Leek and Potato one just using some veg stock, leeks, potatoes and salt. Sauté the leeks in some butter, add stock and peeled and cubed potatoes and simmer (not boil) until potatoes are soft. Blend and serve with crusty rolls/bread. Taste as it simmers add more stock/salt/seasoning until its where you want it. You can also add things like ham hock to the above for more texture and taste etc.

[21TonyK]

Chicken soup

100g Onion, leek and celery
50g Butter/Marg
50g Flour
1l Chicken stock
125ml Cream
Bouquet Garni
Salt & pepper

Gently sweat the veg in the butter or mag without colouring. Add the flour and cook to a sandy texture. Gradually add the stock stirring to the boil, add the bouquet garni and simmer for 30-45 minutes skimming impurities. Remove the bouquet garni and liquidise then return to a clean pan, reboil and finish with the cream then correct the seasoning.

This method works for a lot of soups, just a case of changing the ingredients in the middle before simmering, ie. add mushrooms. Buy a box of bouquet garni sachets, its easier. And when you are confident make big batches, freeze in two portion tubs and just take out after breakfast to reheat in the evening.

[Pixelpeep 135]

geeks said:

Soup is pretty hard to get wrong.

thanks

what veg stock are you using please?- i've found some really really salty and others just plain nasty.

[geeks]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

geeks said:

Soup is pretty hard to get wrong.

thanks

what veg stock are you using please?- i've found some really really salty and others just plain nasty.

Lol sorry PP I really didn't think when I posted that

I use the knorr organic stock pots

As I hoped Tony has already offered a good recipe to follow. Everyone of these types of threads he arrives in I make a point of stealing whatever advice he offers

[sherman]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

thanks

what veg stock are you using please?- i've found some really really salty and others just plain nasty.

Just use what most proffesional kitchens use. Knorr stock cubes. Just the proffesionals buy it by the tub not the cube.

[p4cks]

This is a piece of piss to make, if you follow the recipe (comments are worth a read too!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeg67jnZozU&t=...

Edited by p4cks on Monday 25th April 14:19

[thebraketester]

If it doesn't taste good it either needs salt or cream or both. :-)

[21TonyK]

Just to add, for veg soup increase the veg to 300g and add in carrot, swede etc then add 100g of potato at the simmering stage and for a simple tomato soup replace the veg with 100g onion, 100g carrot, 25g diced bacon and add 100g of tomato paste after cooking the flour out. At the end strain it rather than liquidise.

[Bill]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

it was horrible.

In what way? Too salty, too bland, it reminded you of what your mum made when you were ill...

And what veg did you put in and how long did you cook it for? If the answer is cabbage, cooked for hours!

[Pixelpeep 135]

Bill said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

it was horrible.

In what way? Too salty, too bland, it reminded you of what your mum made when you were ill...

And what veg did you put in and how long did you cook it for? If the answer is cabbage, cooked for hours!

lol - bland and a tiny bit bitter.

I used carrots, suede and bits of potato - cooked for around 30 mins. I like my veg soft as i don't have a blender (yet...)

[21TonyK]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

i don't have a blender (yet...)

Thats the problem, you need to blend the veg into most soups. Grab a cheapie stick blender of Amazon and your away.

[bigandclever]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

lol - bland and a tiny bit bitter.

I used carrots, suede and bits of potato - cooked for around 30 mins. I like my veg soft as i don't have a blender (yet...)

There's your problem .. you want swede instead

[mikeswagon]

21TonyK said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

i don't have a blender (yet...)

Thats the problem, you need to blend the veg into most soups. Grab a cheapie stick blender of Amazon and your away.

I don't own a blender either, fortunately most of my recipes work just as well chunky. Admittedly if following one of my mums recipes for broth, you may need a knife when eating it.

My go-to comes from an old Jamie Oliver, leek and chickpea. I'll try and dig it out tonight.

Edited by mikeswagon on Monday 25th April 15:49

[Pixelpeep 135]

bigandclever said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

lol - bland and a tiny bit bitter.

I used carrots, suede and bits of potato - cooked for around 30 mins. I like my veg soft as i don't have a blender (yet...)

There's your problem .. you want swede instead

it tasted like suede

[Pixelpeep 135]

21TonyK said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

i don't have a blender (yet...)

Thats the problem, you need to blend the veg into most soups. Grab a cheapie stick blender of Amazon and your away.

I'm a leap and don't look kinda guy usually - i've bought countless gadgets for the kitchen/garage/car cleaning/music production, use them once and end up either selling them, putting them in the garage or putting them in the garage then taking them to the tip after 8 months of them getting in the way.

two large kitchen drawers hide the spoils of previous one hit wonder purchases.

Other half is getting grumpy with me for keep buying toot we don't need so i was hoping to get a convincing soup in front of her first before the amazon guy arrives with a shiny new BLEND X 7000GL-TR deluxe

But i guess there is no avoiding the inevitable

[21TonyK]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

21TonyK said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

i don't have a blender (yet...)

Thats the problem, you need to blend the veg into most soups. Grab a cheapie stick blender of Amazon and your away.

I'm a leap and don't look kinda guy usually - i've bought countless gadgets for the kitchen/garage/car cleaning/music production, use them once and end up either selling them, putting them in the garage or putting them in the garage then taking them to the tip after 8 months of them getting in the way.

two large kitchen drawers hide the spoils of previous one hit wonder purchases.

Other half is getting grumpy with me for keep buying toot we don't need so i was hoping to get a convincing soup in front of her first before the amazon guy arrives with a shiny new BLEND X 7000GL-TR deluxe

But i guess there is no avoiding the inevitable

£18 for the stick on its own...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Salta-Multi-Immersion-Mul...

[Bill]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

bigandclever said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

lol - bland and a tiny bit bitter.

I used carrots, suede and bits of potato - cooked for around 30 mins. I like my veg soft as i don't have a blender (yet...)

There's your problem .. you want swede instead

it tasted like suede

Onion would help with sweetness (or just add a little sugar), and as had been said, cream and S&P really help.

[Pixelpeep 135]

21TonyK said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

21TonyK said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

i don't have a blender (yet...)

Thats the problem, you need to blend the veg into most soups. Grab a cheapie stick blender of Amazon and your away.

I'm a leap and don't look kinda guy usually - i've bought countless gadgets for the kitchen/garage/car cleaning/music production, use them once and end up either selling them, putting them in the garage or putting them in the garage then taking them to the tip after 8 months of them getting in the way.

two large kitchen drawers hide the spoils of previous one hit wonder purchases.

Other half is getting grumpy with me for keep buying toot we don't need so i was hoping to get a convincing soup in front of her first before the amazon guy arrives with a shiny new BLEND X 7000GL-TR deluxe

But i guess there is no avoiding the inevitable

£18 for the stick on its own...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Salta-Multi-Immersion-Mul...

so i can't get this then?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Maker-Blender-HB150...

[21TonyK]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

21TonyK said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

21TonyK said:

Pixelpeep 135 said:

i don't have a blender (yet...)

Thats the problem, you need to blend the veg into most soups. Grab a cheapie stick blender of Amazon and your away.

I'm a leap and don't look kinda guy usually - i've bought countless gadgets for the kitchen/garage/car cleaning/music production, use them once and end up either selling them, putting them in the garage or putting them in the garage then taking them to the tip after 8 months of them getting in the way.

two large kitchen drawers hide the spoils of previous one hit wonder purchases.

Other half is getting grumpy with me for keep buying toot we don't need so i was hoping to get a convincing soup in front of her first before the amazon guy arrives with a shiny new BLEND X 7000GL-TR deluxe

But i guess there is no avoiding the inevitable

£18 for the stick on its own...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Salta-Multi-Immersion-Mul...

so i can't get this then?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Maker-Blender-HB150...

See that as an upgrade to the stick? Seriously, there really is no need for "soup makers". A saucepan, a spoon and a stick blender (which also has lots of other uses if you buy one with the chopping bowl attachment).