Help me dupe this soup

[Tab]

I've been getting into soups and sauces lately (for some reason, I've always avoided them). I made a wonderful warm carrot soup the other night. I've got that down to a science.

My new objective is the perfect (to me) tomato soup.

I've never been a fan of the traditional Campbell's tomato soup, although I do like Gazpacho and salsas. The one tomato soup I have not only liked, but crave, is the canned Wolfgang Puck's Organic Tomato and Basil soup (the other Wolfgang Puck soups are, imo, non-remarkable, but I find the tomato soup to be just wonderful). It was originally a Chunky Tomato, Basil, and Oregano soup, and then they moved it to the organic section and dropped the 'oregano' from the name, if I remember correctly. The soups differ slightly, they changed the recioe somehow, and I think the newer organic one is not quite as good, but it's still damned better than anything else I've had anywhere, organic or not.

Has anyone had it and know how to duplicate it? I've been making a decent tomato soup at home, and most would if not praise it, at least enjoy it, but it's still a world apart, taste-wise, and doesn't hold a candle to, the Wolfgang Puck canned soup.

Signed

- Want the perfect soup for less than $2.99 a can

[eleny]

1. Funny you should mention this kind of tomato soup

The other day I treated myself to similar at Safeway. It's the fresh kind in the plastic tub. I got the tomato basil one and it's fabulous. Now I'm working my way through the squash soup. But that tomato is calling me. I hope you get some responses with some ideas.

I Googled for a basic tomato basil soup recipe and there are many. None have any mystery ingredients. It looks pretty basic and easy. I bet you get a good start with one from online. One even calls for a can of tomato soup and then says to add the basil, milk and some parsley. Can you imagine Puck's kitchen with empty giant sized tomato soup cans in the trash bin?!

[Tab]

2. Well, I did make one

And if I ordered it in most restaurants I would be happy with it. But there's something about the Puck soup that pulls it together - I don't know what, but it makes me go, "damn, that's a good soup". It's something fundamental, not just the spices, but I can't noodle out what it is.

Yes, there are lots of recipes, and a brazillion ways to make soup, but I want THAT soup. :)

[eleny]

3. I've been wondering if it's a base

Like maybe he uses a veggie stock. That way he could incorporate garlic, parsley, onion etc.

The Safeway soup had a kick to it that I can't place. It's a spicey flavor and I can't decide what it is. These days we have access to so many different kinds of "hot".

One more thought - If he has a cookbook, you might find some hints in the stocks he uses for other soups. He might have a tried and true stock that he falls back on like how Emeril falls back on his "essence" blend.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

4. I've never had the soup you're discussing,

but that's hardly a reason for me not to have an opinion.

;)

Anyway, one of the things I learned from my Sardinian grandfather was to put a splash of red wine vinegar in any kind of tomato-based soup we had. Maybe that's what you're tasting?

In any event, it's fascinating, watching these brilliant foodies try to figure out an ingredient. If I find the soup, you better believe I'm going to buy it, simply because you've got me hooked.

[Tab]

5. It's not hard to find

Although I get mine at the local supermarket (the tomato is in the organic section; I don't care for the other soups, although they're okay)



You can order the tomato with basil soup here..

http://www.foodlocker.com/wolfgangpuck.html

Now, from looking at their site, there's actually four variations that they make...

Country Tomato and Basil - this is the first kind I had, and I think it's the best. My store no longer stocks it, and I thought it was redesigned into the organic, but now I see it's still around, so I'm going to order me some! If you get any kind, get this one.

Organic Tomato Basil - this is what I can buy now - still not quite as good as the Country Tomato and Basil, but still damn good.

Signature Tomato Basil - I've never seen it or had it, don't know anything about it. Would like to try it.

Organic Creamy Tomato - I haven't had it, and I'm not into creamy soups too much anyway; it may be fine, but it's not the kind I'm referring to.

Anyway, get either the Country Tomato and Basil if you can find it, or if not, the Organic Tomato Basil. I'd be curious to see what the Signature Tomato Basil was, so if you try it, report back!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

26. okay, I got a can of the

Organic Tomato Basil (didn't see the Country one). It was very good. It was quite sweet & I read the back of the label where it listed "organic cane syrup". Maybe that's the flavor? I've never made tomatoe soup & don't know if sugar is a common ingredient.

:shrug:

[Tab]

27. Sugar cuts the acidity of the tomatos

It's not a requirement, and you don't need a lot, but it often appears in tomato sauce (and I guess, soup), to cut down on the acidity - take the edge off, basically.

But now that you've had it, assuming it wasn't TOO hot (my dad used to have his soups near boiling, and I never understood how he tasted anything), do you see how it all kind of ties together? I don't know how he does it, and his other soups (e.g.: chicken noodle) aren't anything to write home about, but this particular soup just seems to go together perfectly, imo.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

28. well, I'll have to get another can & check it further.

I've never made tomato soup, so I'm a bit clueless. He definitely had chunky in there, so he purees some & leaves some chunks. Next time I try it I'll check further, but I'll have to look at tomato soup recipes also to see where his is different.

[eleny]

29. I use a pinch of baking soda in tomato sauce

My mother in law's trick for smoothing out the tomato bite. But you just use a very small amount or else it will erase flavors. The right amount does wonders for sauce and might help this soup recipe, too.

[NMDemDist2]

6. my stepmother (who's house I'm going to for Xmas and let her feed me

for a whole 5 days hehe :bounce: ) can do that. She can go to a five star restaurant, have a sauce or soup and then a couple weeks later re-create it from the memory of the taste

it's simply awe inspiring to watch her do it

:wow:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

8. My cousin's wife can that .

It absolutely bedevils me.

She can figure out ingredients by sniffing a dish. I've seen her do it, and I can never believe it.

I wish I could do something even close to that.

You're gonna have a good time, aintcha? That's nice.

[NMDemDist2]

9. didya see what I made her for a present? I think it'll be GREAT!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=287&topic_id=1518&mesg_id=1518

[OldLeftieLawyer]

10. It's absolutely wonderful

Everything about it - your finding it and fixing it up so beautifully - makes it the perfect Christmas gift. A real gift from the heart.

You might want to consider adding some monkeys flying out the horse's butt, though.

Or flames.

George W. Bush's head?

Seriously, it's quite lovely. Are you shipping it there, or are you driving and taking it with you? Long distance?

[NMDemDist2]

12. shipping in two boxes and she'll go nuts looking at em til I fly in

:evilgrin:

she's in Shreveport LA, me Phx AZ so quite a ways unfortunately. I wish she were closer...

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

11. my oldest can taste any spice, herb,

whatever in a dish & identify it. Martha can too & so could James Beard. I wish I had that talent.

[NMDemDist2]

13. what a talent huh? does he/she cook? n/t

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

14. he & yes.

At sixteen he got his first job at a local restaurant as a dishwasher then they moved him to line cook. He now has his own business (in construction) but still cooks some. Like all the guys in my family he loves to barbeque-must be that Y gene.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

15. ps.

don't hijack Tab's thread. He goes ballistic & will come down here & start shouting at us. & I have to work with him.

[Tab]

17. If you want to be spanked...

why don't you just SAY so??

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

20. sexist! sexist! n/t

[Tab]

21. FWIW, the ONLY thread I have EVER objected

EVER to being hijacked was in THIS forum

And that was taking a thread and converting it to a thread about vacuum-packing corpses, for chrissake.

I challenge you to identify some other thread where I've objected!

And, no, I don't apologize for bitching about my cooking thread being turned into a discussion about the merits of vacuum-packing corpses.

You want to vacuum-pack a human corpse, start your own damn thread. :)

[NMDemDist2]

22. well... now that you mention it....

that was a bit bizarre

I guess we'll have to give you a pass on that one :rofl:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

25. again, i didn't say i wanted to be vacuumed packed.

i wrote that dh likes his suck-em-out-machine so much that i was afraid if i stood still he would vacuum pack me. i want to be cremated.

[NMDemDist2]

18. Tab and his lil grey pal are newbies here so I hope he/they

show a little respect for the elders and since I proudly wore the little grey ghost myself, I can tell ya

I ain't afraid of no GHOSTS!!

:rofl:












well....... maybe just a little........

:hide:

:yoiks:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

16. to show you how good he is,

he can taste the difference between black & white pepper.

[NMDemDist2]

19. wow! n/t

[SW FL Dem]

7. I just tried the new Campbells Select Tomato and Basil soup

it's not homemade but it is pretty darn good for a premade soup. It comes in a box not a can and I buy it at Costco. It is SO much better than the regular Campbells tomato soup.

[Lugnut]

23. I have a coupon for that

I think I'll give it a try. :)

[SW FL Dem]

24. Campbell's Select Red Pepper/Black Bean soup is good too n/t