AIBU to be disappointed & hungry?

[decisionssmecisions]

Received a soup maker for Christmas. Tried it today using a highly rated recipe (good food) but it’s turned out rank. Is it because the recipe was for the usual pan way & I need to adapt? Is it because I used leeks? Is it because soup makers are rubbish? Any recipes that actually work?

Also, make sure you don't add too much water! If you think you have then before it blends, dip a large mug in and scoop up some of the liquid (may need a few mugs) then let it blend. If it then becomes too thick, all you have to do is re-add some of the liquid

I am also interested in learning what a soup maker does - is the appeal that you don't need to blend with stick blender at the end? I love a kitchen gadget, but haven't managed to justify a soup maker yet.

My favourite is sweet potato and red pepper but I use the long sweeter red peppers (Tesco finest range). Sweet potato has less starch. Some potatoes are less starchy might be worth doing a bit of research. I tried using King Edward’s at Christmas to use up turkey and veg. It ended up like wall paper paste and I had to throw it away.
For any veg based soup I use Bouillon Veg stock powder, you don’t need as much as it has a good intense flavour.

I bought a cusinart soup maker. It is large capacity and double s as a liquidiser. DS uses it for protein drinks.

This is my one!

It's great!

I made a great red pepper and goats cheese last week. Goats cheese added at end and I used roasted peppers. It was divine!

@Caiti19 yes it is just a one pot solution so no mess. Also minimal prep. when I met my DH he had a soup maker I thought it was so lame and a totally pointless gadget but it is just SO convenient, clean up is 2 mins max. We have soup way more as a result.

@decisionssmecisions you said it was bland? I've always found homemade (leek and potato especially) needs lots of seasoning, especially (good quality flaky) salt. More than you think! (Same goes for tomato-based recipes like chilli con carne).

And that's OK if generally (like us) you don't add extra salt at the table.

That is subjective to what type of result you wish. We will have to agree todisagree there. While you absolutely can make soup without stock I do not find it is a good idea in a soup maker personally. I also would argue many other soups but French Onion can be made better with stock.

You don't have to agree with that but that is MY opinion of it.

Thanks! My family really loves this soup: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/speedy-sweet-potato-soup-coconut

So instead of standing over pot and controlling the heat for each stage on the hob, I'm standing over a soup maker? Do you not find that some soups have to be watched so that you get it off heat and blitzed when the veg is "just barely soft"? Maybe I should just get one to satisfy me curiosity.

I too had a disappointing experience with leek and potato. It was sieved to remove fibres at the end, so a vichyssoise. I'm guessing so maker won't sieve. 🤔

I love mine, it also makes great gravy/sauces!

I used to make soup on the hob and use a stick blender . Tried it in the slow cooker but it makes a vegetable stew rather than a soup .

I put off getting a soup maker for ages - would I use it / takes up too much room/ how to clean it/ just how much soup can I eat ?

Got mine half price in Sainsbury .
I had doubts as 20 minutes didn;t seem long , will it just give me hot vegetable water ?

It is smooth and perfectly cooked . If I use big bits of raw veg I might run it twice . But it is brilliant for leftover odds .

Though when I cook roast potatoes and say "any left go in the freezer" my DS will say "there won't be any left they're going in your son".
But I can usually get a few dodgy ones .

Hallowe'en 2022 I bought a couple of small eating pumpkins but the weather was so bad I didn't carve them, I sliced , roasted and froze !

Soup maker won't sieve you'll have to keep that step manual 😅

But you don't stand over the soup maker either... you pick your setting or function and it just does it's thing.
So pop bits in... Go have a shower/ put some washing on or whatever and come back to a nice lunch...

@decisionssmecisions potato and leek is my favourite done in the soup maker! did you not get a book of recipes included in the box??

Love my soup maker but here's a top tip - don't use red onions instead of white as the soup looks like a the product of a very upset digestive track.

I love my soup maker. It's lovely if you sauté your meat and onion in butter before adding to soup maker. I always use potato to thicken and always just put them straight into soup maker. Maybe you just need to experiment.

@2jacqi I did but not a potato & leek one & I had a leek to use up.

@ColumboTheBestDetective Yeah didn’t really taste of anything just leek flavoured wallpaper paste. I did use stock.

so the carnivore diet gone out the window @Parentofeanda?!