Not Plain Salt And Pepper: Soup Is 10x More Delicious With A Packet Of This Seasoning

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We enjoy canned soups as a recipe shortcut — cream of chicken makes a bang-up pasta sauce, for instance — but we don't always spend enough time and energy appreciating them as, well, soup. When you're craving the comforts of a warm bowl of brothy goodness but don't have the time or resources to make a pot yourself, soup in a can has the potential to be a worthy fast track to a meal. We say "potential" because, sometimes, canned soup can taste a bit flat. If you desire that nuanced, homemade depth of flavor in a hurry, we've found that poultry seasoning can really help. Its components all contribute to upgrading your meal, and, best of all, many of us already have a jar of this blend in our spice cabinets.

Although different manufacturers' blends contain varying ingredients, a basic recipe for poultry seasoning includes black pepper, nutmeg, and several dried herbs like thyme and marjoram. Looking at that list, it's little wonder that poultry seasoning amps up your soup: the herbs add brightness to what can otherwise be one-note preparations, the pepper lends a mellow kick, and nutmeg brings a warming note that enhances many different varieties of soup, especially cream-based ones. On the list of things you should know before buying canned soup, we highlighted the fact that these products can contain a lot more salt and sugar than you'd assume. Don't mistake those inclusions for sufficient flavor, however! Poultry seasoning can really make up for a wealth of deficiencies in your soup.

One thing to check for when perusing the ingredient list of your poultry seasoning is salt. Traditionally, poultry seasoning recipes don't include salt, but we've definitely noticed commercial products from big grocers that feature it prominently. Canned soup tends to be pretty salty as-is, and many consumers don't want either the sensation of visiting a salt lick or having to deal with added dietary sodium that comes with seasoning. When it comes to upgrading your soup, choose a low-sodium poultry seasoning or one without any salt at all. For striking a balance between quality ingredients and solid pricing, we appreciate the good reviews of McCormick's Gourmet Collection organic poultry seasoning.

Are you one for making your own soups, as opposed to buying cans? You needn't disregard this hack completely, as poultry seasoning also stands to improve homemade soups and broths. You may find that this all-in-one seasoning blend beats the combination of several herbs and spices that you might otherwise have to pull together for your recipes. We've seen home cooks using poultry seasoning for chicken and dumpling soup, but we can think of many popular soups in which this would shine, like broccoli and cheddar, baked potato, beef and barley, and even tomato soup. Social media loves poultry seasoning in soup, and we tend to agree. Also, even though the word "poultry" is in the name, it doesn't actually contain any animal products, so it's safe to use in even vegetarian or vegan soups.