How To Make Canned Soup Great!

By Ken Kudra

Most of us eat soup from a can from time to time. After all, it is easy to make and relatively cheap, too. The downside is that it can get pretty boring, and for those of us without much time, it may be the only solution. Fortunately, you do not have to be stuck with dull soup. There are some great ways to make your soup better without a lot of work. Here are a few.

All you have to do is know what to add to any can of soup to take it from dull to delicious. Check out your leftovers - do you have any veggies in the fridge? Cut up fresh veggies and microwave or saute them, or toss in cooked veggies. You will be surprised by the difference they can make in a simple can of soup

Frozen veggies can work well, too. Take a commercial can of chowder and add some corn, carrots, peas, or green beans out of the freezer bag, then heat as usual. You will notice a real difference in the taste, and you do not have to put in very much more effort.

Meat can make an excellent addition to soups, as well, and it is a great way to use up leftovers. For a tasty chicken soup, save bits from a previous chicken meal, warm them briefly in the microwave, and add to your canned meal for a better taste. Any kind of meat, including seafood, can be used. Just make sure you cook it thoroughly before eating, for safety's sake.

If leftovers are not common in your kitchen, you can try canned meats instead. Chicken, shrimp, or other options make a canned soup a lot more interesting. Add canned crab to a standard can of clam chowder for mixed seafood chowder. Put chicken in vegetable and noodle soups. Everyone loves a great cup of soup.

You do not have to be using meat to turn leftovers into effective soups, either. Try using last night's lentil pilaf, some leftover rice or barley, or even a handful of noodles in your canned soups to add a little interest. These grain items can be added when you heat up the soup, since they are precooked.

Spices and condiments can really change tastes, as well, and may make dull soups a lot more interesting. Garlic and onion, herbs, seasoning salt, hot pepper, or black pepper could be just what you need. Wine and sherry make things better, as do interesting vinegars. Try hot sauce, soy sauce, or even a little ranch (in a cream soup) and see what happens.

Last, but not least, do not forget about dairy. A little freshly grated cheese can make your soup much tastier, and some soups benefit greatly from a spoonful of sour cream. Do not overdo it, and always add these after heating to prevent separation (to create a cheese soup, you can add grated cheese to a cream soup when heating). You will love the taste that results. - 29857

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here