Garden Vegetable Soup.....it needs flavor, ideas?!

Alishamarie48879
Alishamarie48879 Posts: 92 Member
in Recipes
Hey all...I just made this Garden Vegetable Soup from Skinnykitchen.com. It is really great, but lacks flavor. Any ideas on what I can add (low or no cals preferred) to give it more flavor?? Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

8 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup pearl barley
2 bay leaves
1 T reduced sodium soy sauce
1/2 T dried thyme
2 tsp fresh garlic, minced
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 cup onion
1 cup carrots
1 cup zucchini
1 cup yellow squash
2 cups fresh spinach
1 cup fresh corn or frozen corn
ground pepper to taste

It's 74 cals/cup, but it needs flavor..help!
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Replies

  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    homemade chicken stock with a rotisserie chicken from a deli.
    it's pretty great.
    also, add some chicken while you're at it.
  • toez79
    toez79 Posts: 63 Member
    More garlic, more pepper, different herbs and more of them. If you like spice, maybe you could add curry or chili powder or Cajun seasoning. Not sure what it tastes like currently, so it's hard to know which flavor of spice would go well with it.
  • Chelledl
    Chelledl Posts: 4 Member
    What were the cooking instructions? Did you cook the veggies and spices first or did you add them to the water and broth? Soup is always more flavorful if you develop the flavor of the vegetables and spices before adding the liquid. :o)
  • ripemango
    ripemango Posts: 534 Member
    i would omit the water and add more onion, garlic, and cumin. I would prob put in at least a tsp of cumin. It *needs* some celery. I would add 3 stalks of diced celery. Most soups esp vegetable soup contain celery and this may be the taste you are missing. You also need more salt for that much soup. One tablespoon of reduced sodium soy sauce isn't going to cut it. You don't have to, but I would also add a couple shots of hot sauce.
  • Alishamarie48879
    Alishamarie48879 Posts: 92 Member
    Thank you for the suggestions. It just has a veggie flavor, pretty bland. It had me add the liquids and spices and barley first..then cook for an hour. Then add all the veggies but the spinach and corn for 30 more min. Then add the spinach and corn, add pepper then it is done.
  • fmendoza71
    fmendoza71 Posts: 1
    All these suggestions were good (keep in mind the next day is when most soups have the best flavor) but what you can do is add fresh chopped onion, cilantro (great flavor enhancer), and fresh squeezed lemon, that really adds pazzaz to your hot soup, veggie or chicken soup! Fresh or dried oregano also. Enjoy! Add directly to your bowl, once served.
  • cersela
    cersela Posts: 160 Member
    I would make pot liquor out of the left over vegetable parts (leaves, stems, roots) and use that instead of water. It won't help your current batch, but it might help next time.
  • janehadji
    janehadji Posts: 206 Member
    I would add a lot of lemon juice and a little bit of Lawry's Seasoned Salt!
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    I generally add about 1/4 lb of hot italian sausage. When it's divided among all the servings, it's not many extra calories at all, and adds a TON of flavor.
  • pjkalk
    pjkalk Posts: 18 Member
    I like to add Hot & spicy V-8 juice to my veg. soups.
  • Ange_
    Ange_ Posts: 324 Member
    Minced ginger About 1 tbs. It will work really well with the other spices you already have in there.
  • linhmaimac
    linhmaimac Posts: 148 Member
    homemade chicken stock with a rotisserie chicken from a deli.
    it's pretty great.
    also, add some chicken while you're at it.

    This. Adding chicken makes a lotta difference. If you're afraid of the extra calories, just use chicken breast meat instead. Yum!
  • karen8272
    karen8272 Posts: 6
    Weight Watchers has a recipe similar to this, it has chicken broth. I also have used corn on the cob and removed the corn and used the cob as flavoring, as it also makes its own broth. Of course, don't forget to remove the cobb before eating! (My friend clued me into this, she is a chef.) I have also added cilantro and salsa to my soups.
  • Keiko385
    Keiko385 Posts: 514 Member
    I tend to let my soups sit overnight in the fridge, to me they always taste better then next day. this one may just need more of the same herbs you already put into it
  • Sweetpea3963
    Sweetpea3963 Posts: 16 Member
    Add a can of stewed tomatoes.:smile:
  • FeatherBoBeather
    FeatherBoBeather Posts: 255 Member
    If you don't mind a little sodium, BetterThanBullion Vegetable stock base is amaaazinggly flavorful. :D
  • Brittmy
    Brittmy Posts: 141 Member
    I always use a little bit of low sodium v-8 juice! Works really well for soups actually! I put it with beef broth but veggie broth would work too, I am sure.
  • jky4kf
    jky4kf Posts: 4 Member
    worcestershire sauce!
  • MostlyHealthyMomma
    MostlyHealthyMomma Posts: 44 Member
    Maybe some lemon pepper or rosemary? Or both!
  • 530gothic25
    530gothic25 Posts: 1
    Add a can of stewed tomatoes.:smile:

    This. Tomatoes will brighten up that soup nicely. Add a can of stewed tomoatoes or even just a small can of tomato paste or sauce.
  • Bumdrahp
    Bumdrahp Posts: 1,314 Member
    Add some sodium free salt.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    More garlic, caramelized onions, celery, mushrooms, or cumin to make it more savory.
  • girlnamedlee
    girlnamedlee Posts: 96 Member
    I like to add some crushed red pepper flakes to my soups. The spice helps me feel full faster & I really like the flavor.
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    You couud add some basil or tomato purée. Maybe a pinch or two of cayenne for a little heat?
  • hooah_mj
    hooah_mj Posts: 1,004 Member
    half a jar of extra hot picante :tongue:
  • shipleyd
    shipleyd Posts: 94 Member
    How about some Mrs Dash no salt seasoning? That is normally a quick fix with no extra calories!
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    oregano.
  • Tdk4685
    Tdk4685 Posts: 293 Member
    dried basil, and a can of stewed tomatos. YUM
  • Laurej
    Laurej Posts: 227
    fresh rosemary 1/4 teaspoon of tumeric and 3x as much garlic
  • new_blossom
    new_blossom Posts: 111 Member
    You could add chicken or beef broth (low sodium if you are watching salt) or you could use the bouillon cubes instead of the stock and then add tomato sauce for taste (we actually use ketchup. We use to use the regular Hunts, but now no fructose ketchup even better). Just add until you like the taste of it, but make sure you are knowing how much you are putting in so that you can add your calories.

    You can add all the herbs you want, but you may be wanting the broth to not taste so bland, like water, that is why I am suggesting the above items. Oh, and I add Louisiana Tobascco sauce to taste.

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