Bittman Basics

5 Shortcuts to More Flavorful Soup

The key is smarter water

Photo: StockFood/Getty Images

I won’t kid you: Soup made with stock will always taste richer and have a more luxurious texture than soup made with water. But this is important: It’s better to make soup with water than not to make soup at all. The water will obviously assume the flavors of whatever else goes in the pot, so in effect, it becomes stock as you cook.

How to Make Soup From Almost Anything

Here are a few ways to improve water-based soup.

1. Be patient with the aromatic vegetables as they brown and soften in the fat and add more of them for extra oomph.
2. Use good-quality vegetables and meats.
3. Don’t skimp on herbs, spices, salt, or pepper.
4. Add a splash of wine, juice, or soy sauce with the water.
5. Finish the soup with a drizzle of olive oil or a pat of butter.

— From How to Cook Everything: The Basics