Soups are generally warm food made by combining ingredients such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water, or another liquid. Hot soups are characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth. Traditionally, soups are classified into two main groups: clear soups and thick soups. The established French classifications of clear soups are bouillon and consommé. Thick soups are classified depending upon the type of thickening agent used: purées are vegetable soups thickened with starch; bisques are made from puréed shellfish or vegetables thickened with cream; cream soups may be thickened with béchamel sauce; and veloutés are thickened with eggs, butter, and cream. Other ingredients commonly used to thicken soups and broths include rice, lentils, flour, and grains; many popular soups also include carrots and potatoes.
Definition
Soup in its earliest form was probably a complete meal because it was found hearty, nourishing, economical and wholesome.
Soup is a liquid food consisting of meat, seafood, vegetable cereals or poultry. They play an important role on the menu and are regarded as appetizers as they stimulate the appetite for the heavier food to follow. On the menu, they are
served as the first course, if hors d‘oeuvre is not being served. If hors d‘ oeuvre is served then the soup is served as the second course.
Composition of soups
From the above explanation, it is evident that for making any kind of soup the following group of ingredients is obvious.
- Stock: of any variety.
- Main body ingredients: the soup will get its name.
- Herbs: to match the flavor.
- Butter: as a cooking medium.
- Seasonings: for the taste.
- Thickening agent: for binding solids and liquids.
- Garnish: for presentation and eye appeal.
The function of soup on the menu is to stimulate the customer’s appetite rather than act as a complete meal. For this reason, many soups are of alight and delicate nature. Hot soups are a welcome feature on winter menus; conversely, cold soups are ideal in the summertime. As the soup preparation needs very less amount of butter or fat and also not very spicy, it can be easily an ideal food for invalids.