How to Make Soup from Scratch: A Simple (and Satisfying!) Guide
- Kristina DeRobertis
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
If you’ve ever stared into your fridge wondering what on earth to make for dinner, let me introduce you to one of my favorite solutions: soup.
Not only is it cozy and comforting—it’s also incredibly forgiving. You don’t need a fancy recipe. You just need a rhythm. Let me walk you through my go-to method for building a delicious soup from scratch, no measuring cups required.
This guide will help you take whatever is in your fridge and turn it into a soup masterpiece!
1. Start with Your Base: Aromatics
This is where the magic begins. Think of aromatics as the flavor foundation of your soup. A classic mirepoix—that’s just a fancy French word for diced onion, carrot, and celery—is a great place to start. Sauté them in a little olive oil or butter until soft and fragrant.
Feeling bold? Toss in some garlic, shallots, or leeks too. Your soup, your rules.
2. Add Herbs & Spices
This is where the personality of your soup shines. Go Italian with oregano and basil. Get cozy with thyme and bay leaves. Add warmth with cumin or paprika. A pinch of red pepper flakes? Yes, please.
Pro tip: Toast your spices for a minute before adding liquid to unlock their flavor.
If you want some inspiration, I created a full Spice Guide that will help you pair herbs and spices with the ingredients in your soup.
3. Build the Body
Time to bulk it up. This is where you add veggies, beans, or meats—whatever you have on hand.
Chopped potatoes, zucchini, kale stems, or mushrooms? Toss them in.
Leftover rotisserie chicken? Even better.
A can of white beans? Always a win.
It’s all fair game here.
4. Soup It Up!
Now pour in your broth or stock—chicken, beef, veggie, bone broth, whatever fits the vibe. Enough to cover all your ingredients with a little extra room to simmer.
Let it all cook together until your veggies are tender and the flavors have had time to mingle. (This is where your house starts to smell amazing.)
The longer it simmers the more the flavor comes alive.
5. Finish Strong
Now’s the time to stir in the quick-cooking ingredients like:
Leafy greens (spinach, kale, parsley)
Cream or coconut milk if you want it velvety
A squeeze of lemon or lime to brighten everything up.
Taste and adjust your salt and spice—this step makes all the difference.
6. Garnish Game
A good garnish takes your soup from “meh” to wow.
Try:
A swirl of cream
Fresh herbs
Grated cheese
Croutons or crusty bread
A drizzle of olive oil
Herbed Pistou (similar to Pesto)
Whatever you add, make it pretty and delicious.
Soup is the ultimate clean-out-the-fridge meal—and once you’ve got the basic steps down, you’ll be whipping up your own creations in no time.
Have a favorite combo or go-to soup? Drop it in the comments or tag me on Instagram @491westmainst so I can see your cozy bowls!
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