When it comes to a type of dish that everyone eats in almost every country in the world, soup certainly stands out. Soups are one of the most beloved and delicious meals. Different soups come from all parts of the world. Each of which has its own special and unique tasty kind of soup. In this way, humanity has managed to link itself with the history of soup, with each region incorporating its own flavors and ingredients into this preparation. So, let’s check out some of the most famous soups, and their recipes, around the world.
Gazpacho. The most famous soup of Andalusia
Firstly, we have gazpacho. The gazpacho is a classic cold tomato soup. Spaniards almost always have it in their fridge in the summers. it’s not necessarily the first course at dinner. It’s a refreshing soup, full of summer flavors. It is the best thing to taste on a hot day, even if it surprises those who think soup is just something you boil. And if you call it a soup salad, you’d be absolutely right, because you’re actually pureeing the ingredients of a summer salad.
It is a rural Andalusian dish that makes the most out of poor ingredients. The oldest recipes speak of a mixture of bread, olive oil, garlic and water, tomatoes and peppers were added much later when they came from the ‘New World’. Today the recipe is quite flexible, but you can’t make a classic gazpacho without bread and tomatoes.
Gazpacho recipe
For a little more professional recipe version of gazpacho we will need:
- 2 kg of ripe tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 green pepper and 1 chilli pepper, green
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 cucumber
- salt
- 1 tablespoon of mint
- 1 tablespoon basil
- pepper
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 100 g olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes, optional
- 100 g toast, crustless
- For serving
- 1 tsp basil oil
- pepper
- basil leaves
Firstly, In a bowl, add the tomatoes, onion, cucumber, peppers, and garlic, finely chopped. Add salt, finely chopped mint and basil, pepper, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, optional chili flakes, and bread cut into pieces and mix very well with your hands, while pressing all the ingredients to release all the juices from the vegetables. Then, Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-12 hours to release its flavors. After that, put the mixture in an immersion blender, on low speed, until all the ingredients are dissolved. Then, pass it through a sieve and press with a ladle until all the juice is gone. The puree left in the sieve can be used to make tomato patties. And finally, serve in bowls with basil oil, pepper, and basil leaves.
Minestrone. One of the most famous soups of Italy
One of the most famous soups of Italy is the Minestrone. This soup is just the thing for a light and easily digestible meal, with vegetables, herbs, some pasta, and legumes. Furthermore, the Italian minestrone is a thick, delicious vegetable soup with tomato, usually including small pasta or rice and beans (traditionally with their broth), and can be served with a little Parmesan cheese. In addition, this soups recipe is an easy one and you could easily follow it to make it at home. So let’s check it out.
Minestrone recipe
Ingredients for 6 servings:
- 100g beans
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 120 g pumpkin, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 sprig of celery, finely chopped
- 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
- 70 g tomato paste
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 400 g canned chopped tomatoes (or fresh, without the skin)
- 1,5 litre of hot water, or bean broth, or vegetable broth
- 130 g of cut pasta, or other small pasta
- 100 g baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- Parmesan flakes (omit if you are vegan)
- salt
- black pepper
Execution:
Firstly, soak the dried beans from the previous night. The next day, drain them, rinse them, and put them in a pot with plenty of cold water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Then, drain them and repeat the same process. Let them boil for another 30 minutes. Henceforth, drain the beans again (reserve the water in which they were boiled to use in the soup if you want) and set them aside. After that, Place a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and once it is hot, sauté the onion, garlic, potato, carrot, celery, and pumpkin.
Add the beans, tomato paste and a little salt and pepper. Stir and add the oregano and thyme. Stir again, and add the chopped tomatoes and bay leaves. Add water, lower the heat and simmer for about 30-40 minutes, until the vegetables are done.
When the vegetables are ready, add the spinach and the pasta, and cook al dente according to the pasta and the instructions on the package (about 8 minutes). Once done, remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
Then, serve immediately with shredded or grated Parmesan cheese.
Goulash. Hungary’s most famous soup
Goulash is one of the most famous soups around the world and comes out of Hungary. It is a hearty, warming soup. It is usually cooked with beef, onions, paprika, vegetables, and tiny gnocchi-like dumplings. Hungarians don’t particularly like it watery. They put their emphasis on its meat and vegetables, and across the country, you’ll find it in many variations. You can learn how to make it by clicking here and checking out a recipe for it.
Ramen. One of the most famous soups of the world
Last but not least we have Ramen. Ramen is one of the most famous soups in Japan and of the world. This Japanese soup, which has caused a worldwide frenzy in recent years, is nothing like the instant soups you find in Asian grocery stores or even in supermarkets. The Western world’s perception of ramen as a cheap and highly processed food changed dramatically in 2004 when Korean-American chef and TV star David Chang opened Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York. There he was serving his handmade and fresh version of ramen soup and making his own noodles with a broth made from hours of fine meat boiled over and eggs from free-range chickens. As a result, lines automatically formed outside the shop. Consequently, it is no exaggeration to say that Chang was the one who started the ramen revolution as we experience it today.
However, I have written an article dedicated exclusively to ramen in this blog. So, if you want to learn more about this worldwide famous soup you can just click here.