What is the first thing we eat before starting a meal? What is the first thing we crave when feeling tired and low? Yes, you guessed it right, a hot bowl of soup! Whether prepared fresh at your home or a take-out from your favourite restaurant, a bowl of soup is enough to fill your stomach while satisfying your soul. But have you ever wondered how many types of soups there are worldwide? If not, it is time you go through this article to learn in detail about the several soups famous in different parts of the world. Read on!
What is Soup? Its History and Categories:
The soup is a nutritious liquid served as a snack or at the beginning of a meal. The usual ingredients include meat and vegetables with stock prepared with milk or water. The broth is prepared by boiling all the ingredients till the flavours get into it. Compared to stews, soups have more liquid, though there might not be a clear distinction between the two sometimes.
Soup has existed since 20,000 BC because boiling was a common cooking technique during old times. Before the invention of waterproof bowls, people used watertight baskets made of bark, reeds or animal hides. The origins of the word soup come from the French word soupe, which means broth. Here is the simple and efficient classification of soups:
Thin Soups:
Thin soups are the types of soups that are based on clear, unthickened broth or stock. You can serve these soups plain or garnish them with vegetables and meat. The following is the segregation of the thin soups:
- Broth.
- Consommé.
Thick Soups:
The thickening agents used in every soup determine the classification of a thick soup. For example, purees are vegetable soups thickened with starch, and cream soups are ones reduced with bechamel. Here is the further segregation of thick soups:
- Purees.
- Bisque.
- Veloutes.
- Cream soup.
- Chowder.
Cold Soups:
Soups served in cups or chilled bowls are cold soups, hence the name. The preparation of the cold soups might only have slight modifications to the structure of the practice of hot soup.
Read Also: Popular Types of Salts
International Soups:
The classification of international soups is based on the region where the soup is prepared. For example, the French onion soup is from France. Here are some of the famous international soups:
- Spain – Gazpacho.
- England – Chicken broth.
- Sri Lanka – Mulligatawny.
- Scotland – Cockie Leekie.
- Russia – Bortsch.
- USA – Clam Chowder.
- Germany – Beer soup.
- Italian – Minestrone.
- France – French Onion soup.
20 Popular Types Of Soups From All Around The World:
We have curated the list of some of the popular soups you can find internationally, which give you a taste of the particular region.
1. Minestrone:
A classic vegetable soup that you will see on the menu in any Italian restaurant is the Minestrone, in addition to tomatoes, cannellini beans, tiny pasta noodles, and seasonal vegetables like squash, zucchini, green beans and potatoes in the preparation of Minestrone. A simple vegetable medley is the definition of Minestrone which uses whatever produce is available on hand. Therefore, you can add any freshly available vegetable to cook up some Minestrone.
2. Chicken Noodle Soup:
Since time immemorial, chicken soup has been around. There are different versions of this classic comfort food in diverse cultures worldwide. However, you can typically count on a steaming bowl full of a homemade chicken stock flavoured with Chicken, noodles, carrots and celery when it comes to classic American chicken soup. One optional add-on to the chicken noodle soup is a poached egg.
Although every person makes chicken noodle soup differently, the base of most of the recipes is the same. For a hearty chicken broth, the base mostly is celery, onions, carrots with roasted chicken and egg noodles. You can add extra flavour to the recipes by adding herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and garlic.
3. Lentil Soup:
Lentils were the first legume to be ever cultivated is Lentils and therefore have a rich history. Lentil soup comes in various recipes that reflect the culture from which it came, famous throughout the Middle East, Latin America and Europe.
In fact, with this soup, the possibilities are endless. For example, you can try a variety of seasonings like curry powder, cumin, and thyme with hearty lentils in combinations with other ingredients like tomatoes to bacon.
4. Tomato Soup:
Tomato soup is another classic comfort food that has become an American household staple and is famous worldwide. Preparing a traditional tomato soup requires blanching tomatoes until they become soft. Then blend them until smooth after removing the skins. Some recipes add herbs, spices, chunks of tomatoes, and cream, making them unique.
5. Italian Wedding Soup:
Italian wedding soups are not served at the wedding even if the soup has the name wedding in it. The Italian phrase Minestra maritata, meaning married soup, is the inspiration for the soup’s name. The term means the marriage of flavour between all the ingredients. The Italian wedding soup tastes like true love making it a hearty dish.
6. New England Clam Chowder:
Many restaurant menus all over Boston have New England clam Chowder. Which was first introduced to New England in the 18th century. The New England clam chowder is rich, thick and creamy in consistency. In addition to milk and cream, it has salt pork, potatoes, onion, tender clams and celery. Traditionally oyster crackers are used with this soup for garnish or for dipping. The New England clam chowder is a cousin to tomato-based broth, the Manhattan clam chowder.
7. French Onion Soup:
Onion soups have been around for ages and were thought to be a poor man’s meal. However, this peasant food got its luxe makeover as a gratin because of Paris’s restaurants of the famed Les Halles market. Preparing the French onion soup involves simmering caramelized onions in red wine and beef broth. This soup is famous for being topped with lots of Gruyere cheese and croutons, baked to perfection.
8. Bouillabaisse:
Bouillabaisse is a complex and fragrant broth from Marseilles’s Provencal city. It is a feast of fresh-caught fish simmered in the broth. The taste of this type of soup is taken to the next level with the addition of the sweet tomato, aromatic heavy-hitters like garlic, fennel, thyme and saffron to the rich fish stock. This seafood-based bouillabaisse typically has vegetables, spices, clams, lobsters, vegetables and herbs with fish in a fish broth.
9. Miso Soup:
Miso soup is the type of traditional Japanese soup which uses miso and dashi. Dashi is a broth made from dried bonito flakes, kelp and anchovy, a staple in Japanese cuisine. At the same time, miso is a mixture of soybeans, sea salt and rice koji, forming a fermented paste. So you have your miso soup with the combination of miso and the delicate, umami-driven broth. Although the commonly added ingredients to the light, savoury soup are tofu and seaweed, you can also make it a more substantial bowl by adding soba noodles and mushrooms.
10. Seafood Bisque:
The Bisque is a velvety smooth, creamy and highly seasoned French soup. A seafood bisque has a flavourful broth from boiling crustaceans like crab, shrimp or lobster. The broth is then strained and added with seasonings and cream. To thicken and add flavour to the soup, the shells are ground into a fine paste in traditional recipes.
11. Split Pea Soup:
Served in ancient times by the Greeks and Romans, Split pea soup’s popularity has not gone down despite its appearance. Boiled dried split peas form the base of this soup until they become tender. Sometimes fresh peas are also added to the soup. Once the peas are tender, you can puree them until they are smooth. This soup boasts a hearty texture similar to lentil soup and is far from bland.
12. Corn Chowder:
Corn chowder is the US’s popular type of soup. This soup is rich and creamy and sometimes uses fresh corn stock made by boiling corn cobs in water to add extra flavour to the broth, but you can also use sweet, tender corn kernels for clams. Although corn is the main ingredient in Corn chowder, butter, cream and celery are also present in the soup, resulting in silky and decadent chowder.
13. Butternut Squash Soup:
The velvety smooth bowl of the Butternut squash soup is a perfect representation of the fall. Roasted butternut squash puree is used to prepare this soup thinned with chicken stock. You can add roasted root vegetables and seasonal ingredients to add flavour to the soup. You can feel free to garnish your bowl with crispy bacon for a pleasantly salty finish.
14. Beef and Barley Soup:
Also called scotch broth, the Beef and Barley soup is a traditional Scottish soup that boasts a combination of slow-cooking stew meat like beef or lamb chuck with barley and root vegetables. For the meat to be meltingly tender, cook it low and slow. As a result, the broth will become flavourful and light while the barley is chewy. This Beef and Barley soup have tender pieces of beef stew meat and vegetables like carrots, celery and onions.
15. Chicken Tortilla Soup:
Chicken tortilla soup is a traditional Mexican soup that features all the region’s flavours, though its origins are unclear. The Chicken stock mixed with sweet roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic and chiles forms the base of this satisfying dish. Adding chicken meat, corn, and crunchy fried tortilla make this soup more interesting. The soup uses avocado, sliced chillies, and sour cream as garnishes.
16. Chicken and Rice Soup:
Chicken and rice soup have the same formula as the chicken noodle soup in being comforting. A chicken and rice soup have Chicken in a light but flavourful broth with a mirepoix of celery, carrots and onion swimming alongside the Chicken. The Chicken and rice soup is a healthier and more flavourful adaptation to the classic chicken noodle soup.
17. Zuppa Toscana:
Zuppa Toscana is an Italian soup found in many American Italian chain restaurants. Most recipes of this soup have a creamy base along with some sort of leafy greens like kale, spinach or escarole, potatoes, and Italian sausage. This soup often comes with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
18. Cream of Mushroom Soup:
Suppose you are a fan of the umami character and satisfying meaty texture of mushrooms. In that case, the cream of mushroom soup is a must-have. The luxurious silky character of the cream of mushroom soup comes from roux and cream. Adding roasted mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme creates a deep flavour to the soup.
19. Pho Soup:
A Vietnamese soup that has recently risen in popularity in the United States is Pho, also called ‘fuh.’ This dish has traditionally made with thinly sliced beef with rice noodles cooked in beef broth. The preparation of Pho in American variants uses other proteins too. In addition, Pho is often served with bean sprouts, green onions and fresh herbs.
Read Also: Chilli Pepper Varieties Around the World
20. Beer Cheese Soup:
The Beer cheese soup is an update to classic German beer soup and is a popular type of soup. This type of soup is a roux-based creamy soup which also has lots of beer. Pretzels and toasted croutons are often served with this modern version of beer cheese soup.
Interesting facts about Soups:
Here are some facts about soups that you might find interesting:
- The word soup originates from su and po, which means good nutrition, in Sanskrit.
- When you are on a diet, soups act as great fillers. You can keep the calories away by consuming a bowl of clear soup.
- You can remove excess fat from the soup by taking a lettuce leaf and drawing it across the soup’s surface. You can also use a large spoon to skim the excess fat.
- Soups are a perfect solution to incorporate veggies for kids who cringe at their sight. The soups are not only tasty but are very nutritious.
- Soup is part of a meal in many cultures. Therefore, it is eaten with a spoon.
- To lose weight, you must avoid creamy soups, even if they are super delicious. This is because a creamy soup contains approximately 74 grams of fat and 700 calories.
Soups have been popular in every part of the world, giving each place a unique taste and speciality. This article has curated some of the popular types of soups you can look into to increase your soup knowledge. Although it is impossible to make a list of all the soups, we have tried our best. Don’t forget to let us know if you found this article helpful!
Disclaimer:
The content presented in this article is based on research and not a replacement for a professional opinion. The website is not responsible for the authenticity and accuracy of the information.
