Top 8: Scoop up these winter-warmer soups in your local supermarket
We would have liked a Top 10 for this edition, such was the very good choice of chunky soups available on the shelves.
We would have liked a Top 10 for this edition, such was the very good choice of chunky soups available on the shelves.
None seemed to overdo salt or sugar, so we didn’t need to list them, and most had very few additives and little thickener.
We bought Just Food Organic’s delicious tomato and Mediterranean vegetable soup (400g €3.79), but it wasn’t quite chunky enough for this survey.
It deserves a mention, as do the Big Pot Co (500g, €3.65) and SOOP Mug soups (€3.99 380ml).
Most successful were soups naturally chunkified with pulses for plenty of secondary protein, which will stave off hunger.
These soups freeze well (check individual labels), so they will be handy for leftovers at Christmas, when you don’t want to start from scratch.
They are good as a base for pies, using ready-made flaky or puff pastry on top of the soup with added hard-boiled eggs, chunks of seasonal butternut squash, halved and roasted in the air fryer for 30 minutes.
Add defrosted frozen peas, cooked rice, sweet potato, uncooked small florets of cauliflower, ends of smoked salmon or fresh fish, or a dollop of peanut butter if the flavour is low. The only limiting factor is our imagination.
Our next survey on November 28 is our annual ‘battle of the bakers’ mince pies. Join me then.
A decent amount of salmon, with some white fish, and just the right quantity of smoked fish, providing a hint of umami.
The gluten-free sauce of cream and butter is thickened with just a little cornflour for weight, and is spiked with carrots, leeks, fennel, and potatoes.
White wine and bay leaf add depth. Perfect. In English Market, Dunnes Stores, Patrick Street, Bishopstown Court and Bishopstown, Cork.
- Score: 10
Mixed peppers, red lentils, chickpeas, yellow split peas, carrots, peas, garlic purée, lots of warm spices, blend well with 5% shredded cooked chicken for a satisfying spoonful.
Very tasty and interesting with plenty of bite, fibre and secondary protein from the pulses.
A handy soup for kids after school. Or put in a flask for easy lunches. Add more chicken to have with rice for supper.
- Score: 9.5
The tomato base features chunks of carrot, celeriac, red lentils, and spinach, flavoured with garlic and ginger purées, curry powder, spices, and soy sauce.
Cornstarch is used to thicken, but it is not overdone. Well-balanced flavours here in what we would describe as low spicing, although the container says medium.
Good fibre and protein. Adding a spoonful of plain yogurt would add creaminess and more protein.
- Score: 8.5
This soup surprised us as we expected just broth with vegetables and noodles.
Instead, we got a generous portion of delicious pieces of leg meat, along with a decent chicken broth that featured plenty of chopped parsley.
Easy to eat at a desk. As suggested on the container, add soy sauce or chilli, as it has low seasoning.
A satisfying, upmarket pot noodle. From the stall at the English Market, Cork.
- Score: 9
A good blend of seafood — including prawns, and a little smoked fish — it also contains leeks and potato.
The thickening ingredient is rice flour, and there is added yeast extract, fish and vegetable bouillon, which are not overdone.
The result is a tasty soup with all ingredients less chunky than other samples, but liked by tasters.
- Score: 8.5
Plenty of both lentils and bacon here in a pulpy textured mix with split peas, carrot, celery in a flavoursome chicken and vegetable stock.
Full of flavour with a good balance of spicing. Turkey leftovers could work well with it.
- Score: 9
In a tomato base, red lentils give it bite, with a decent 6% of red peppers, onions and celery.
Good, India-inspired spices in the curry powder include turmeric, cumin, chilli, coriander, and fenugreek for an interesting, moreish flavour.
Try serving with toasted almonds on top. Made in Britain.
- Score: 8.5
A good blend of carrots, tomatoes, onion, leek, butternut squash, potatoes, celery, and lentils makes for a loose yet substantial blend.
The spices are warm with a little kick of chilli from the Ras El Hanout blend of spices, mollified by butter and cream.
Rice flour is used to thicken. No additives.
- Score: 9
