1 week Ago By Nicola Roy
During the autumn and winter months when the weather is cold and miserable, there really isn't anything better than enjoying a delicious bowl of soup. This hearty and versatile dish is a real comfort food for many people during those cold, dark evenings, and there are endless flavour combinations available to try. It's also one of the easiest meals to make at home, because a lot of the time, all you need to do is chop up your ingredients, leave them to simmer in a pot for a while and then serve.
If you've been perfecting your soup-making skills this autumn, you'll know that a deep, rich flavour is key. And according to experts, there's one 'secret' ingredient that can take any soup to the next level and make it taste much better. Food and flavour expert Phil Bianchi from The Gift of Oil has unveiled how people can transform the taste of their soups and get the perfect taste that is sure to impress everyone at the dinner table.
And he says the 'secret ingredient' that everyone should know about can make 'any' soup taste even more flavoursome - and it's not salt or pepper. He said: "Soup is a versatile dish that the whole family can enjoy, however, there is one secret ingredient that will enhance any soup you’re making - balsamic vinegar. "Not only can Balsamic vinegar enhance the flavour of your soup, but it also helps to balance out the sweetness of any vegetables too.
Simply add a splash of balsamic into the soup whilst it’s cooking and enjoy!" A bottle costs as little as £1.50 from Asda or Tesco . Similarly, a dash of olive oil can also work wonders for improving the flavour of your soups.
Once you’ve made your soup, this will help to enhance the flavours and the overall body and texture of the dish. It doesn’t have to be a lot, a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil should do the trick. An extra virgin olive oil that's packed with polyphenols, will not only help to enhance the flavours, but also has plenty of health benefits too, such as heart health, brain health and even boosts your mood - perfect for those dark winter months.
And if you've got any stale bread lying around, don't throw it out - you can use this to make some delicious croutons that will complement your soup perfectly. To do this, tear the bread into chunks and add it to your soup - the bread will rehydrate in the soup, losing any staleness it previously had. Alternatively, you can also blend the bread in with soup, giving it a thicker texture.
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