Vegan Sweet Potato Soup Recipe - Cookin Canuck (2024)

FAQs

Does sweet potato thicken soup? ›

Starchy Vegetables

Grate a starchy vegetable like squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, or white potato into the soup and let it simmer. It will release that starch and help to thicken the liquid as it cooks.

Adding an acid like vinegar or lemon juice and incorporating fresh herbs can also help add flavor to a potato soup. While you may not need to implement all of these strategies, it's good to keep them in the back of your mind for when you realize your next pot of soup needs a flavor boost.

So, if you want them less sweet, try shortening the cook time by preheating, cutting them smaller, poking with a fork/knife, and using a higher temperature. This is actually the right answer. And the amylase is most active above 135°F but then becomes denatured and stops working around 170°F.

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

Don't overcook the vegetables. One of the main reasons that vegetables become soggy when cooked in broth or soup stock is that they are overcooked. To prevent this, try to cook your vegetables until they are just tender but still firm. This will help them retain their shape and texture.

Adding umami-rich ingredients like tomato paste or a parmesan rind to the soup will add a deep, rich savoriness and body to the soup.

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

Cheese: I recommend a good sharp cheddar cheese here for maximum flavor. Greek yogurt or sour cream: To make the soup extra-creamy. Salt and pepper: Add in as much as you need at the end to season your soup well.

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

Is a sweet potato a carb or protein? ›

Sweet potatoes are mainly composed of carbs. Most of the carbs come from starch, followed by fiber. This root vegetable is also relatively low in protein but still an important protein source in many developing countries.

Slow-roasting the sweet potatoes activates endogenous enzymes that bring out their natural sweetness.

Bake, don't boil

Baking sweet potatoes caramelizes their natural sugars, especially when done whole. It intensifies their flavor and creates a richer taste compared to boiling, which can result in a watered-down, bland flavor.

Use your senses to determine if your sweet potato is past its prime. First, give it a squeeze. It'll be firm if it's fresh, and mushy if it's not. Other signs to check for are discoloration, shriveled skin, black or brown spots, and suspicious odors.

Instead, boil the sweet potato until it's fully cooked, then chop it up before adding it in, professional chef Lisa Marley explains to The Guardian. This allows the sweet potato to almost melt into the soup so it can be evenly thickened throughout without any big chunks remaining.

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

Russets or all-purpose baking potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture. In soups, they will soak up the liquid and lose their shape. This makes them the ideal choice for making creamy soups or thickening a runny soup. Try using Russet potatoes to create the perfect Loaded Potato Soup.

Specifically, egg yolks are a great thickening agent to add texture and body to your soups. Beat your eggs in a bowl, with one cup of your warm broth or soup to keep from curdling. Once you've beaten the eggs and soup together, add it to your pot so the eggs can cook.