When it is cold outside and you are not feeling well and no matter the time of year.
there is a nothing more comforting than a hearty soup recipe and a slow cooker stew recipe.
On that we can agree but when you a break it is down do you really know the difference between stew and soup?
They are similar in character and so it can sometimes be hard to tell soup and stew apart. but don’t worry.
It’s a pretty simple to figure out whether you’re sipping a soup and slurping down a stew.
And in the end no matter what you end up eating .
the hope is that it’s delicious simple to make and will warm you up and fill your belly!
Here’s everything to know about a stew vs soup.
Table of Contents
So what’s the difference between stew and soup?
Soups and stews can a start with the same ingredients .
a combination of vegetables, meat, and fish cooked in a liquid, such as stock, water, and milk to name a few.
The main difference is the amount of liquid that’s used for a each.
In a soup the ingredients will generally be a completely submerged in liquid while in stews they are just barely covered.
What’s the definition of soup?
The main component of a soup is the liquid.
the Soups can be brothy puréed and creamy .
Soups are a generally simple and fast to make some can be made in as little as 20 minutes!
The most of labor-intensive part of making a soup is chopping the vegetables and meat as they are should be broken down into small bite-size pieces.
The general rule is that no ingredient should be a larger than a soup spoon.
What’s the definition of stew?
Stew tends to be a more complex and takes longer to cook than soup.
The ingredients in stew are cut into larger pieces and are “stewed” in a small amount of liquid until all of the ingredients are a cooked .
the flavors have melded.
To this last point stews can a often contain tough cuts of meat like beef chuck so those need additional cooking time.
The Stews can also have some type of thickener added like flour that would be cooked briefly .
the vegetables after they’ve been a softened.
This is helps thicken the liquid and coats the meats and vegetables.
Unlike soups are which rely mostly on water and stock as the main liquid and stews can contain beer , cider, and wine for additional flavor.
this Soups also tend to be served on their own with maybe just a piece of bread as an accompaniment .
while stews are often served over rice and alongside polenta and mashed potatoes.
Is chili considered a soup or a stew?
There is a lot of debate about whether chili is a soup and a stew.
It’s a thick like a stew but can have small and bite-size ingredients like a soup.
The verdict is still out of but we’re siding with chili as a stew as it tends to cook for longer and has a thick consistency and can contain beer as a flavoring agent.
also read : The Best Chili vs Soup . What’s The Difference?