What is the first thing we eat before starting a meal? What is the first thing we crave when feeling tired and low? Yes, you guessed it right, a hot bowl of soup! Whether prepared fresh at your home or a take-out from your favourite restaurant, a bowl of soup is enough to fill your stomach while satisfying your soul. But have you ever wondered how many types of soups there are worldwide? If not, it is time you go through this article to learn in detail about the several soups famous in different parts of the world. Read on!

What is Soup? Its History and Categories:

The soup is a nutritious liquid served as a snack or at the beginning of a meal. The usual ingredients include meat and vegetables with stock prepared with milk or water. The broth is prepared by boiling all the ingredients till the flavours get into it. Compared to stews, soups have more liquid, though there might not be a clear distinction between the two sometimes.

Soup has existed since 20,000 BC because boiling was a common cooking technique during old times. Before the invention of waterproof bowls, people used watertight baskets made of bark, reeds or animal hides. The origins of the word soup come from the French word soupe, which means broth. Here is the simple and efficient classification of soups:

Thin soups:

Thin soups are the types of soups that are based on clear, unthickened broth or stock. You can serve these soups plain or garnish them with vegetables and meat. The following is the segregation of the thin soups:

• Broth.
• Consommé.

Thick soups:

The thickening agents used in every soup determine the classification of a thick soup. For example, purees are vegetable soups thickened with starch, and cream soups are ones reduced with bechamel. Here is the further segregation of thick soups:

• Purees.
• Bisque.
• Veloutes.
• Cream soup.
• Chowder.

Cold soups:

Soups served in cups or chilled bowls are cold soups, hence the name. The preparation of the cold soups might only have slight modifications to the structure of the practice of hot soup.