How to Thicken Soup
Use a roux (the most common method)., Use uncooked wheat flour., Use grated raw potato., Add yogurt or cream., Try white rice or pasta., Make a corn, rice, or potato paste., Beat an egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of cream for every cup of soup., Use...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use a roux (the most common method).
Melt butter in a pan, add flour while whisking until the mixture forms a paste and the flour is cooked.
This paste is called a roux.
Then whisk in 2% milk until you have a thick sauce (about the consistency of pancake batter).
This is called a Bechamel sauce.
Add to the soup. -
Step 2: Use uncooked wheat flour.
Make a sauce from 1/2 tsp melted butter or olive oil mixed with 1 1/2 tsp flour for every cup of soup.
Pour the soup over the mixture and stir constantly until the soup thickens.
This method requires at least another quarter of an hour to cook in order to remove the flavour of "uncooked flour".
This is the same as thickening with a roux, except that the flour is cooked in the soup, and not before adding. , There's a lot of starch in potatoes, and this will help create a thicker consistency.
This is best added to a soup immediately upon grating.
Cook for another 5–10 minutes to ensure that it is cooked and to produce a thickened consistency. , This requires a lot of care and tending; reheat gently and stir constantly until the soup thickens.
Evaporated milk can be used in place of cream.
The resulting soup texture will be lovely and rich. , Adding these to the soup about 10–12 minutes before the soup is due to be served will make a soup considerably more substantial.
The addition of rice is especially enjoyable with pumpkin or squash soups; blend if wished to maintain a smooth consistency. , Mix cornflour, rice flour, or potato flour with water until you have formed a thick paste.
Whisk this into the soup until the soup thickens.
You can also use wine, stock, or other liquid in place of the water for making the paste. , Add a little of the hot soup to the beaten mixture before adding it all into the soup pot.
This is called "tempering"
- it heats the eggs a little before you drop them into scalding liquid (which risks creating "egg drop soup").
Keep it at a simmer
- it must not be boiled or the egg will solidify. , This method will thicken the soup without as much additional cook-time as the flour method.
Put about a tablespoon of starch in a container and add just enough cold water to make a thick slurry or paste.
Whisk this into the soup and bring to a boil.
It is important to add water to the starch and not starch to water (as this will cause it to be lumpy), and to use cold water (adding hot water will cook the starch before it is mixed in to the soup). , Use a can of beans with a mild flavour (but not kidney beans, as they are overpowering).
White beans are best.
Drain and rinse the beans, then blend with a cup of the soup broth in a blender or food processor.
Add the puree to the remainder of the soup, simmering over low heat until it thickens. , The best way to do this is to remove vegetables from the soup and puree them, then return them to the soup to thicken. , Either white or brown bread is fine, provided it is dried.
Process the crumbs in your processor, then add to the soup.
Drop in a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
The soup will thicken with cooking. , In a pinch, use instant potato flakes to achieve the required consistency for your soup, tasting as you go. , -
Step 3: Use grated raw potato.
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Step 4: Add yogurt or cream.
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Step 5: Try white rice or pasta.
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Step 6: Make a corn
-
Step 7: or potato paste.
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Step 8: Beat an egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of cream for every cup of soup.
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Step 9: Use cornstarch.
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Step 10: Add beans.
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Step 11: Add pureed vegetables.
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Step 12: Try breadcrumbs or crumbled tortilla chips.
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Step 13: Try instant potato flakes.
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Step 14: Finished.
Detailed Guide
Melt butter in a pan, add flour while whisking until the mixture forms a paste and the flour is cooked.
This paste is called a roux.
Then whisk in 2% milk until you have a thick sauce (about the consistency of pancake batter).
This is called a Bechamel sauce.
Add to the soup.
Make a sauce from 1/2 tsp melted butter or olive oil mixed with 1 1/2 tsp flour for every cup of soup.
Pour the soup over the mixture and stir constantly until the soup thickens.
This method requires at least another quarter of an hour to cook in order to remove the flavour of "uncooked flour".
This is the same as thickening with a roux, except that the flour is cooked in the soup, and not before adding. , There's a lot of starch in potatoes, and this will help create a thicker consistency.
This is best added to a soup immediately upon grating.
Cook for another 5–10 minutes to ensure that it is cooked and to produce a thickened consistency. , This requires a lot of care and tending; reheat gently and stir constantly until the soup thickens.
Evaporated milk can be used in place of cream.
The resulting soup texture will be lovely and rich. , Adding these to the soup about 10–12 minutes before the soup is due to be served will make a soup considerably more substantial.
The addition of rice is especially enjoyable with pumpkin or squash soups; blend if wished to maintain a smooth consistency. , Mix cornflour, rice flour, or potato flour with water until you have formed a thick paste.
Whisk this into the soup until the soup thickens.
You can also use wine, stock, or other liquid in place of the water for making the paste. , Add a little of the hot soup to the beaten mixture before adding it all into the soup pot.
This is called "tempering"
- it heats the eggs a little before you drop them into scalding liquid (which risks creating "egg drop soup").
Keep it at a simmer
- it must not be boiled or the egg will solidify. , This method will thicken the soup without as much additional cook-time as the flour method.
Put about a tablespoon of starch in a container and add just enough cold water to make a thick slurry or paste.
Whisk this into the soup and bring to a boil.
It is important to add water to the starch and not starch to water (as this will cause it to be lumpy), and to use cold water (adding hot water will cook the starch before it is mixed in to the soup). , Use a can of beans with a mild flavour (but not kidney beans, as they are overpowering).
White beans are best.
Drain and rinse the beans, then blend with a cup of the soup broth in a blender or food processor.
Add the puree to the remainder of the soup, simmering over low heat until it thickens. , The best way to do this is to remove vegetables from the soup and puree them, then return them to the soup to thicken. , Either white or brown bread is fine, provided it is dried.
Process the crumbs in your processor, then add to the soup.
Drop in a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
The soup will thicken with cooking. , In a pinch, use instant potato flakes to achieve the required consistency for your soup, tasting as you go. ,
About the Author
Jason Powell
Committed to making practical skills accessible and understandable for everyone.
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