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Original poster

Why does my veg soup never taste as good as in restaurants/cafes? What's missing?

27 replies

pushyparentsru · 19/09/2006 12:18

Anyone?

OP posts:
FifteenBadgersOnADeadMansChest · 19/09/2006 12:22

Chicken stock (sorry...)

anorak · 19/09/2006 12:22

Homemade soups need a great deal of seasoning.

salt
pepper
herbs
spices
stock cubes
marigold powder

Best of all if made with homemade stock - boil up your chicken carcasses and ham bones etc.

BarefootJasnem · 19/09/2006 12:22

Haven't a clue
Tell us what you put in yours and we may be able to help...

Greensleeves · 19/09/2006 12:22

Probably too much salt Most commercially prepared food is oversalted IME - and restaurants often add chicken stock or salted veg stock to soups.

I would suggest sweating onions/leeks in butter and adding them for extra flavour - and a bit of black pepper.

aitch71 · 19/09/2006 12:26

butter, salt and cream is what's missing, it's just that you'd have a heart attack if you ate in restaurants every day.

lulumama · 19/09/2006 12:28

i sometimes stir in a spoonful of marmite which gives a nice rich flavour and a deeper colour - only recommended if you like marmite!!!! sounds ick but does work, add a little at a time as can get overpowering!

aitch71 · 19/09/2006 12:32

actually, thinking about it. i do stir in a half teaspoon of garam masala into my leek and potato. lifts everything, doesn't taste of curry.
and always sweat onions in a mix of olive oil and butter.

twocatsonthebed · 19/09/2006 12:37

quite possibly...

what recipe are you using?

twocatsonthebed · 19/09/2006 12:39

sorry, had wandered away and not pressed post, I was replying to 15badgers...

Marigold stock powder helps, also putting a parmesan rind in while it stews.

scotchick · 19/09/2006 12:43

what's marigold powder? Do you use that in addition to stock?

twocatsonthebed · 19/09/2006 12:44

Marigold is a really good vegetable stock powder, so you can either use it on its own, or to beef up (so to speak!) your own vegetable stock. I also chuck a bit of white wine into the stock if I feel that the soup needs livening up a bit.

Enid · 19/09/2006 12:45

no it is stock

get it in green tubs from the supermarket

its great

also its ESSENTIAL to sweat onions very slowly in olive oil and butter until they are very soft

then you can chuck any old stuff in and it always tastes fab

dd1 had to wriet her favourite food for a project at school and she put 'My mums vegabel sup' (she is NOT good at spelling )

Bramshott · 19/09/2006 12:45

I had lovely veg soup at a National Trust property whilst in the throes of bad morning sickness, and I'm still fantasising about it!! Nothing beats a good vegetable soup! I agree with all those who've suggested Marigold - I put it in everything!

Greensleeves · 19/09/2006 12:46

What does marigold powder taste like? I have hundreds of them in my garden , I had been intending to ask someone this

ScummyMummy · 19/09/2006 12:49

I love bad spelling and i would just faint with pride and joy if either son cited my food as his favourite! vv of you, Enid!

aDAdOnMumsnet · 19/09/2006 12:50

or red tubs...

marigold stock

As said lower down - more butter, more salt, double cream will all make it taste fuller and richer. But does it really taste thaaat much nicer. I get a kick out of it being a bit healthy and still tasting pretty nice.

ScummyMummy · 19/09/2006 12:51

hmm greeny! I think there are about as many marigolds in marigold bouillon as there are in marigold washing up gloves...

Enid · 19/09/2006 12:51
scotchick · 19/09/2006 12:51

aha! Would you say that's better and taster than real stock? I have some frozen chicken stock in my freezer you see.

Enid · 19/09/2006 12:52

depends

some bought chicken stock is, IMO, grim as it has loads of flavourings and wine in

marigold is a nice flavour. although tbh the soup I made yesterday didnt have any stock in, just water but I do cook the veg carefully for a long time first

aDAdOnMumsnet · 19/09/2006 12:53

Not as full in depth of flavour as a meat stock no, but if I'm making a veg soup, I'd rather not put meat anywhere near it. Particularly as I have a vege dp!

bubble99 · 19/09/2006 12:53

Marigold stock or a shake of Telma kosher chicken bouillon powder. You can buy both in Sainsbo's and Waitrose.

spykid · 19/09/2006 12:57

Post your best recipes please

Am feeling the need to make some soup now!

ScummyMummy · 19/09/2006 12:57

No- I hate you not. Just want to know how to get sons to eat soup... They are still ridiculously anti "mixed up foods" like soups and stews and spag bol. Eat pretty well as long as it's in dicrete sections but i have had so little luck in promoting the thought that different foods are allowed to touch. Quite infuriating.

scotchick · 19/09/2006 12:59

yes, me too very impressed at your ds saying your soup was his fave! I think I may try some veg soup tomorrow, may have to whizz it for my non lumpy eating ds2, but the rest of us will have it as is.