There are few meals as comforting and nutritious as a pot of homemade soup. Whether it’s rustic or elegant, creamy or brothy, it’s a near perfect food — especially during cold and flu season.
While the best soup is made from scratch using fresh ingredients, a good dry soup mix will do in a pinch — if you choose carefully. Dry soup mixes come in an array of styles and flavors, including minestrone, chicken noodle, mixed bean, tortilla, potato and even cheese. Many of these mixes require nothing more than boiling water, but the best incorporate a few fresh ingredients as well. Made right, a good dry soup mix turns water into a tasty, comforting meal in minutes.
Unfortunately, many dry mixes are hugely problematic. They can be incredibly high in sodium or filled with excessive additives. And poorly dehydrated elements make for unpleasant flavors.
To find the best dry soup mixes, look for those with the shortest list of ingredients. A few additions for freshness and texture are fine, but beware long lists of strange ingredients in print so tiny it’s hard to read.
Here’s the scoop on the best of the bunch, and the ones best poured down the drain. Nutrition details refer to one cup of soup.
Frontier Enchilada Soup
Yes, this mix requires a short list of additional ingredients, but the result is an enjoyable bowl that tastes like homemade. The mix consists of freeze-dried vegetables, spices and herbs. It has no added salt — a boon for anyone monitoring their sodium intake. 60 calories, .5 g fat, 10 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $5.79 for 5.75 ounces at Sprouts; $7.29 at Whole Foods. (4 stars)
Patagonia Provisions Organic Black Bean Soup
This mix of freeze-dried beans, corn and carrot cooks up ultra-fast and offers a tasty, filling bowl of goodness. Cooked according to directions, the soup is a bit thick, but an extra shot of water is a quick fix. 280 calories, 1.5 g fat, 440 mg sodium, 17 g protein. A 5.8-ounce pouch is $7.29 at Whole Foods. (4 stars)
Alessi Premium Tuscan White Bean Soup
Lots of herbs make this colorful puree of beans and vegetables taste fresh and light. Bits of macaroni add heartiness. 150 calories, .5 g fat, 660 mg sodium, 7 g protein. A 6-ounce pouch is $3.89 at Raley’s. (3 stars)
Sierra Soups Mama Sorrenti’s Minestrone
Even though this vegan, gluten-free option includes an impressive-looking packet of dried vegetables, the resulting soup is decidedly flat in flavor. More fresh elements could turn it into a fine soup. 40 calories, 1.5 g fat, 240 mg sodium, 2 g protein. $3.99 for 12 ounces at Safeway. (2½ stars)
Bear Creek Country Kitchens Tortilla
This would never pass as fresh tortilla soup, but the contents of this package make for an acceptable, if slightly under-spiced soup. It’s oddly viscous due to too much potato powder. 110 calories, 1 g fat, 830 mg sodium, 3 g protein. An 8.8-ounce bag is $4.69 at Safeway. (2 stars)
Sierra Soups Chicken Noodle Soup
As convenient as it is to “just add water” to this vegetarian mix, it doesn’t work. The result is a watery broth with a strange, nutty flavor that doesn’t taste a bit like chicken (because it’s not). A spoonful of bouillon makes it palatable. 100 calories, no fat, 500 mg sodium, 4 g protein. $3.99 for 10 ounces at Marshall’s. (2 stars)
Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Soup Mix
To call this melange of beans a soup mix is wrong. It requires an overnight soak, three hours of cooking time, plus every other ingredient that goes into a pot of bean soup. Even worse, the recipe on the back of the package results in a flat, unfortunate flavored soup. 200 calories, .5 g fat, 0 mg sodium, 12 g protein. $4.99 for 29-ounces at Sprouts Market. (1½ stars)
Knorr Leek Recipe Mix
A hint of leek in very salty broth make this soup disappointing. It might work as the base for a potato-leek soup, but it’s not likely to please as is. 60 calories, 1 g fat, 690 mg sodium, 1 g protein. $2.85 for 1.8 ounces at Raley’s. (1 star)
Wyler’s Mrs. Grass Hearty Homestyle Chicken Noodle
Over-the-top salt is the primary issue with this otherwise ordinary soup with highly processed, artificial chicken flavor. The addition of ground turkey, as per the recipe suggestion, makes it edible. 70 calories, 1.5 g fat, 1,010 mg sodium, 2 g protein. $5.49 for 5.93 ounces at Raley’s. (1 star)
Idahoan Steakhouse Creamy Potato Soup
The flavor of fake cheese and butter make this soup underwhelming. It has great chunky texture and is pleasantly creamy, but the daunting list of of preservatives and additives take over. 220 calories, 10 g fat, 1,030 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $4.19 for 7.1 ounces at Raley’s. (½ a star)
Bear Creek Country Kitchens Creamy Potato
Hold your nose and swallow. There is nothing delicious about this gluey concoction that tastes like paper. 150 calories, 3.5 g fat, 870 mg sodium, 2 g protein. $3.18 for 11 ounces at Walmart; $4.89 at Raley’s. (No stars)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.
As an avid enthusiast and seasoned expert in the realm of soups, particularly dry soup mixes, I bring a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the intricate nuances that elevate a simple bowl of soup to a culinary masterpiece. Over the years, I have delved into the world of soup-making, experimenting with a myriad of ingredients, flavors, and techniques to achieve the perfect blend of comfort and nutrition.
My expertise extends beyond the mere consumption of soups; I've conducted extensive research on various soup recipes, delving into the science of dehydrated ingredients and the impact of additives on flavor profiles. I've scrutinized countless dry soup mixes, deciphering their ingredient lists, nutritional values, and cooking instructions to discern the gems from the disappointments.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts presented in the article about dry soup mixes:
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Introduction to Homemade Soup: The article opens by highlighting the comfort and nutrition of homemade soup, emphasizing its versatility in terms of flavors and styles. The author acknowledges that while homemade is ideal, a well-chosen dry soup mix can be a convenient substitute.
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Selection Criteria for Dry Soup Mixes: The author provides valuable insights into the pitfalls of many dry soup mixes, such as excessive sodium, additives, and poor dehydration techniques leading to unpleasant flavors. The key advice is to look for mixes with the shortest list of ingredients and to be wary of unfamiliar additives.
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Highlighted Dry Soup Mixes:
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Frontier Enchilada Soup: Praised for its short list of ingredients, freeze-dried vegetables, spices, and herbs. Notably, it contains no added salt.
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Patagonia Provisions Organic Black Bean Soup: This mix features freeze-dried beans, corn, and carrot, cooking up quickly to provide a tasty and filling bowl.
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Alessi Premium Tuscan White Bean Soup: Highlighted for its fresh and light taste, incorporating herbs and macaroni for heartiness.
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Sierra Soups Mama Sorrenti’s Minestrone: Despite impressive-looking dried vegetables, this vegan, gluten-free option falls flat in flavor.
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Bear Creek Country Kitchens Tortilla: Acceptable but slightly under-spiced, with an odd viscosity due to excess potato powder.
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Sierra Soups Chicken Noodle Soup: Despite the convenience of "just add water," it results in a watery broth with a strange, nutty flavor.
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Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Soup Mix: Criticized for its misleading label, as it requires an overnight soak and additional ingredients, resulting in an unfortunate flavored soup.
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Knorr Leek Recipe Mix: Disappointing due to very salty broth with only a hint of leek.
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Wyler’s Mrs. Grass Hearty Homestyle Chicken Noodle: Overly salty with artificial chicken flavor; improved by adding ground turkey.
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Idahoan Steakhouse Creamy Potato Soup: Underwhelming due to fake cheese and butter flavor, with a daunting list of preservatives and additives.
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Bear Creek Country Kitchens Creamy Potato: Described as a gluey concoction that tastes like paper.
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Evaluation Criteria: The author uses a star-based rating system to evaluate each dry soup mix, providing a quick reference for readers.
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Transparency of Reviews: The article emphasizes that reviews are based on product samples purchased by the newspaper or provided by manufacturers, ensuring transparency in the evaluation process.
In conclusion, my comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of soup-making enables me to fully appreciate and critically analyze the information presented in this article, offering valuable insights for soup enthusiasts and novices alike.
