Adding baking soda to homemade tomato soup balances acidity and enhances flavour, according to food blogger Sam Merritt. The ingredient is described as a key player in any good tomato soup recipe.
An unexpected addition
Merritt, who shares recipes on SugarSpunRun.com, said: "It may be unexpected, but this ingredient is a key player in any good tomato soup recipe. Too much [acidity] can throw of the delicate balance of flavour and even overpower the robust tomato flavour that we actually want. A pinch of baking soda balances things beautifully. I picked up this technique from Cooks Illustrated and I've never looked back."
Alongside tomatoes, onions, garlic, vegetable stock, butter or oil and basic seasonings, the blogger uses baking soda in her go-to recipe. She also adds a small amount of flour, which she says contributes to the velvety smooth flavour and consistency, and sugar to counteract the acidity of the tomatoes.
Recipe method
Merritt wrote: "Every ingredient was meticulously chosen to create a balanced symphony of flavour in every spoonful. Sounds dramatic, yes, but once you taste it, you'll see what I'm talking about. While I do mention a few substitutions for convenience, it's best to stick with the recipe as written for the best results."
As with other traditional soup instructions, cooks are told to first melt the butter in a pot over medium heat, then add the onions and garlic, followed by the flour. Next come the tomatoes, then the seasonings, before everything is stirred together, brought to a boil and left to simmer. All that is further required is pureeing the soup with a blender, adding the cream and baking soda and taste-testing before it is ready to serve.
Popular winter warmer
Tomato soup regularly ranks highly on lists of the nation's favourite winter warmers, and topped a poll of Britons' favourite soup in 2011, with a majority of 37%. As autumn and winter begin creeping in, now is the time to perfect a homemade recipe and leave guests wondering what the secret ingredient could possibly be.
