What is the Difference Between Soup and Stew ?

the Soup and stew are so similar in character.

that it can a sometimes be difficult to tell them apart.

At their core and both soup and stew rely on the same foundation of ingredients.

but there is a one important factor that differentiates these two hearty meals.

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The Difference Between Soup and Stew.

Both soup and stew are a combination of vegetables, meat and fish cooked in liquid.

The main difference between these two dishes is the amount of liquid .

that’s used for each with a stews generally containing less liquid than soup.

While there isn’t really a mathematical way of differentiating these two.

the point at which a soup becomes a stew is determined by how long it is simmered and reduced.

The thicker a soup becomes the more likely it is to be a reminiscent of a stew.

Typically, soup is a primarily made up of liquid usually some kind of broth often mixed with cream and pureed.

The broth and liquid portion of a soup is commonly combined with ingredients like vegetables, meat, and fish .

that are then brought to a boil and simmered to extract flavor.

Depending on the recipe, some soups can cook as fast as 20 minutes as while others benefit from a lengthier cook time.

A stew is a combination of larger-cut ingredients like vegetables, meat, and fish that are just barely covered .

with a cooking liquid, and simmered over low heat for a lengthier period of time.

While a stew cooks, the liquid reduces significantly, making it much thicker than your average soup.

Stews, while good on their own are often served as a topping for solid starchy ingredients, like rice, polenta, noodles, and mashed potatoes.

Some stews, such as chili, are often best served with their own set of toppings such as sour cream and shredded cheese.

Also, it’s a more common for stews to be thickened with flour and a roux.

Additionally, adding extra flavor components like wine and beer are popular in recipes for stew.