Making Restaurant Quality Soups at Home

Once you have the basic process down, you can make any stock that you desire, and add the necessary ingredients for your finished soup. Your own homemade gourmet soup may rival those found in the finest gourmet restaurants. If you do not want to tackle the chore or are limited on time, there are prepared gourmet soup stocks available, and even gourmet soup kits.

Making Homemade Gourmet Soup

If you want to make truly homemade soup, you want to start with making your stock. This part can take hours, so start well in advance of serving time. You could prepare it a day in advance if you keep it refrigerated. You will need bones or a leftover carcass, depending on the flavor of stock you want. You add what is called mirepoix to the bones. This is a combination of coarsely chopped carrots, celery, and onions. You may add other vegetables. Use the parts of these vegetables that are thrown away. If you are adding herbs and spices, mix them in. All is baked, sautéed, or boiled together to make your stock. If you are sautéing or baking these ingredients, you will place them in a pot of water to release the flavors and create the stock. Use enough water to cover everything and bring to a slow, gentle simmer. You may add salt, pepper, and any other desired spices during cooking to suit your taste buds.

When the stock has met your approval, you can remove either just the bones or carcass, or you can strain everything out. Then, simply add the remainder of ingredients. If you were making gourmet vegetable beef soup, you would remove the bones and add your vegetables. Add your chunks or shreds of cooked beef at this time.

Have fun with your gourmet soup, and choose simple recipes until you feel comfortable with complex ones.