All types of soup need that perfectly flavored base just as much as they need some of the tastiest sides for soup. Even your favorite liquid delights use several types of clear soups and broths, but which should you make? From simple creations to elegant treats for the taste buds, you’ll need some of the best types of clear soups and broths.
Some broths and clear soups you can make are Chicken Clear Soup, Vegetable Clear Soup, and a delicious Consommé. But these aren’t all the types of broths and clear soups, so let’s tuck in!
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💡 Best Types of Clear Soups and Broths
Chicken Clear Soup
Classic soups and side pairings, like chicken clear soup and bread, are just the meal you need. One of the healthiest types of clear soups, chicken clear soup is a simple dish made by simmering chicken bones with some healthy vegetables for soup. A perfect nutrient-rich and low-fat/calorie soup.
- Classic Chicken Broth: This traditional soup is made by simmering chicken parts, such as wings, thighs, or a whole chicken, along with vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions.
- Asian Chicken Clear Soup: This variation uses chicken simmered with ginger, garlic, and green onions, along with vegetables like bok choy or mushrooms.
Vegetable Clear Soup
Veggie deliciousness in a broth of pure flavor. There’s nothing like nutrition and flavor from a classic soup like vegetable clear soup. Any vegetables can go into the pot. Some pantry ingredients for soup you can add are tinned carrots, peas, and beans. Cream and milk are also great ways to make soup creamy while giving you that bonus delicious clear broth texture and flavor.
- Minestrone Soup: A hearty Italian vegetable soup made with a clear broth. It’s made of a variety of vegetables such as carrots, celery, tomatoes, beans, and leafy greens.
- Clear Vegetable Consommé: A delicious and flavorful clear broth made by simmering various vegetables and herbs.
Consommé
A perfect crystal-clear and highly delicious clear soup, as expected from French cuisine! Consommé is one of the tastiest and most elegant types of clear soup around, with a refined and clear texture. It’s made by clarifying beef, chicken, or fish broth, which is then simmered with egg whites to remove impurities. Some great soup toppings to add to consommé are thyme, julienned vegetables, and mint leaves.
- Beef Consommé: This crystal clear soup is made by simmering beef bones, meat, and aromatic vegetables. The broth is then clarified using egg whites, which remove impurities.
- Chicken Consommé: Similar to beef consommé, chicken consommé is made by simmering chicken bones and meat along with vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions to extract flavor.
Asian-Inspired Clear Soups
Asia has some of the best clear soups and broths around, so I couldn’t just limit it to one! Some delicious types are pho, Japanese onion soup, Thai clear soup, and miso soup. These types of clear soups and broths feature homegrown flavor fusions with some of the best noodles for soup.
- Miso Soup: A traditional Japanese soup made with dashi broth and fermented soybean paste called miso. It includes ingredients such as tofu, seaweed, and green onions.
- Clear Mushroom Soup: A light and flavorful soup made with clear broth and a variety of mushrooms, often seasoned with aromatics and herbs.
Beef Broth
There’s nothing like a beef broth. One of many great soups feature this as a delicious base. Beef broth gives a rich, deep flavor from its beef bones and vegetables combination. The broth is cooked slowly to extract every ounce of flavor and nutrients.
- Classic Beef Broth: A rich and savory broth made by simmering beef bones, vegetables, and herbs, resulting in a hearty and flavorful base for soups, stews, and sauces.
- Spicy Korean Beef Broth (Yukgaejang): This flavorful broth is a key component of the Korean dish Yukgaejang, which features shredded beef, vegetables, and spicy seasonings like gochugaru.
🧐 FAQs
A clear soup or broth is a liquid dish made by simmering meat, vegetables, or fish in water, allowing the flavors to infuse while removing solids to create a transparent liquid. It serves as a light, flavorful base for various dishes or can be enjoyed on its own.
Clear soups, such as broths and consommés, are watery and translucent. They’re typically made by simmering ingredients and straining out the solids. Thick soups like chowders and bisques have a creamy, velvety consistency.
Popular varieties include consommé, broth, bouillon, miso soup, Japanese clear soup, clear tomato soup, and pea soup.
Typical ingredients include a mix of vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions, as well as meats such as chicken or beef. Herbs and seasonings like thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns are also commonly used.