Instant Soup: Quick and Nutritious Options | Café du Jour
What is instant soup?
Instant soup is soup you prepare in a few minutes by adding hot water to a sachet, jar or cup of dried ingredients. It is a convenient choice when you have little time but still want a warm meal. Instant soup often contains vegetables, herbs and flavourings in dried or powdered form.
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People buy instant soup for speed and convenience. A portion is ready in two to three minutes, with no pans to wash or chopping to do. That makes it popular with students, professionals and families.
How does instant soup differ from fresh soup?
Fresh soup is made from raw ingredients and takes longer to prepare. Instant soup is pre-processed and dried, which gives it a long shelf life. Fresh soup typically contains more fibre and less salt, but instant soup is much quicker to serve.
Popular instant soup brands
There are several instant soup brands on the market, each offering its own range of flavours and packaging formats. The best-known brands have been staples in supermarkets and online shops for years. Below is an overview of frequently requested brands.
- Knorr – wide range of instant soup sachets in various flavours
- Royco – known for Royco Minute Soup in handy cups and sachets
- Cup-a-Soup – popular soup cups from Unox, ready with hot water
- Unox – a trusted brand with classic Dutch soup flavours
- Maggi – international flavours and noodle soups
- Effe Soep – compact sachets for quick preparation
Knorr instant soup vs Royco Minute Soup
Knorr instant soup is available in sachets for multiple servings and offers flavours such as tomato, mushroom and chicken. Royco Minute Soup often comes in single-serve cups, which are handy at the office or on the go. Both brands offer vegetarian options.
Types and flavours of soup
Instant soup comes in dozens of flavours. The most requested are tomato, chicken and mushroom. Besides these classics, there are also Asian noodle soups, vegetable soups and savoury broths available.
- Instant tomato soup – refreshingly tangy taste, popular as a light lunch
- Instant chicken soup – hearty and warming, suitable for all ages
- Instant mushroom soup – creamy flavour, often vegetarian
- Vegetable soup – light and nutritious, with pieces of dried vegetables
- Noodle soup – Asian-inspired, with rice or wheat noodles
- Broth – light base, suitable as a snack or as a base for a dish
Want to buy instant soup in a specific flavour? Check the packaging: some sachets are for one portion, others for two or four portions. Cups are always single-serve.
Healthy instant soup options
There are healthier instant soups: lower-salt, reduced-sugar or low-calorie options. If you watch your diet, you can also find low-carb and vegan varieties. It helps to compare the nutrition information on the packaging.
Dietary preferences and instant soup
Vegetarian instant soup contains no meat or fish and is suitable for a plant-based diet. Vegan instant soup goes further and contains no dairy or eggs. Low-carb and low-calorie variants are available from brands such as Protiplan and SkinnyLove, which focus on weight management.
- Vegetarian instant soup – no meat, often based on vegetables and herbs
- Vegan instant soup – fully plant-based, without animal products
- Low-calorie instant soup – under 100 kcal per portion
- Low-carb instant soup – suitable for a low-carbohydrate diet
- Low-salt instant soup – reduced sodium, good for blood pressure
You can make instant soup healthier by adding extra vegetables or pulses. That increases the nutritional value without adding preparation time.
How do you prepare instant soup?
Preparing instant soup is simple and quick. In most cases you add hot water to the powder or paste in a cup or bowl. The exact amount of water is stated on the packaging.
- Bring the indicated amount of water to the boil or heat it in a kettle.
- Put the soup powder or paste into a bowl or cup.
- Pour the hot water over it and stir well.
- Leave the soup for one to two minutes so the ingredients dissolve properly.
- Taste and add extra herbs or vegetables if desired.
Some instant soup sachets can also be prepared in a pan. That gives you more control over thickness and temperature. Instant soup preparation rarely takes longer than three minutes, making it ideal as a quick lunch or evening snack.