Beefy Tomato Soup | An Easy, Beef & Macaroni Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my soup taste more beef? ›

If you are adding meat to a soup, sear or brown it in a sauté pan before you add it to the soup. This adds a deeper savory flavor to the whole soup.

Tomato paste has a concentrated tomato flavor and earthy sweetness that other tomato products (and even fresh tomatoes) cannot beat. You'll only need a few tablespoons of the stuff to pump up the flavor of tomato soup, so dose out the rest of the can and freeze for future use.

To thicken vegetable soup, try using a thickening agent. We recommend using tomato paste or flour to thicken this recipe. Or you could add in more veggies or chickpeas to "beef" up your soup.

For ground meats, a splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce does wonders to increase the beefy flavor compounds. Adding cooked dried pieces of bacon — a product that already has high concentrations of savoriness — makes for a one-two punch of meaty flavor.

- Adding baking soda to tomato soup and tomato sauces helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Tomato flavors really shine, and your sauce or soup will not curdle if you add milk. - Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of tomato sauce or soup will make flavors sparkle and become less acidic.

Is tomato soup better with milk or water? Tomato soup is better with milk because it makes it creamier.

Add a can of diced tomatoes, a bit of cream, and torn fresh basil leaves. Swirl some red wine vinegar into the soup and serve with a stack of mozzarella and fresh basil leaves on a toasted baguette. Add a drizzle of pesto (homemade or store bought) and finish with toasted pine nuts and croutons.

Can I use Campbell's tomato soup instead of tomato paste? ›

I don't love using tomato soup instead of tomato paste. It does have a similar flavor to tomato paste, but it's sweeter and contains significantly more liquid. That can cause your recipe to turn out runny. If it's your only option, go for it, but you'll need to reduce the other liquid ingredients in the recipe.

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

Do you need tomato paste for beef stew? We recommend using tomato paste for this recipe. Tomato paste adds crucial flavor and body to the stew meat when cooked with herbs, garlic and wine.

The best way to ensure a flavorful soup is to brown the beef and onions in the beginning. If the soup tastes bland at the end of cooking, add more spices and herbs. After adding, allow the soup to cook a little longer so the flavors to meld together.

Beef tastes great when seasoned with oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic or a combination of these seasonings. Poultry gets an added burst of flavor with spices like paprika, lemongrass and saffron. Fish can be made more flavorful with dry mustard powder, thyme and turmeric.

Some enhancers: Add a dash of soy sauce, or Worcestershire sauce, or a spoonful of pomegranate molasses, or a spoonful of Marmite, or a bit of anchovy paste. All of these add some umami (i.e.savoriness). Try a bit of these at a time and taste as you go until you achieve the desired enhancement.

Beef Flavor

To make your own spice blend: Start with a base mixture of salt, pepper, brown sugar, onion, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Other great flavoring agents for beef-alternative dishes are: Vegan Worcestershire sauce – Adds that signature umami flavor.