How to Thicken Soup: Alternative Thickeners to Try (2024)

When thickening soup, you probably rely on a wheat flour or cornstarch roux. But if you want your soups to have a creamy or silky texture, you may want to break that habit. If you're wondering how to thicken soup, while also coaxing the most flavor, here are a few top-notch ideas to try; some of them are even paleo-friendly, which could make a lot of your customers very happy.

Alternative Starches

If you'd like a roux but want to experiment with something other than wheat flour, give tapioca starch, rice flour, or almond flour a whirl. Mix these with an oil to make a roux and add it when your dish is almost done cooking. Some chefs prefer rice flour's malleability; it doesn't clump as much as cornstarch, for example, and it doesn't yield a noticeable color, which is handy when you're looking to thicken clear broths.

You can also give rolled oats a try. Turn the oats into a fine flour first by pulsing them in a food processor or high-power blender. You won't be able to detect an oatmeal flavor in your soups or purees, and you can use the oats like you would use any other flour. If you have leftover mashed potatoes, rice, or beans, these are other options for thickening a soup or puree. Plus, using leftovers is a smart financial move for your restaurant.

Dairy and Eggs

Instead of thickening certain sauces or soups with cream or whole milk, give Balkan or Greek yogurt a go. The result is a lighter soup with the natural tang of yogurt, which adds a depth of flavor that works remarkably well with a number of other flavors. You could also try thickening sauces or soups with either whole eggs or egg yolks, which add protein. You'll need to temper your eggs to avoid curdling, however, or you'll end up with scrambled sauce.

Dairy Alternatives

If you have a lactose-free menu or you just want to cater to those who don't consume dairy, coconut milk is an excellent substitute. Start off with a little to see how it thickens your soup or sauce. Adding more will give your dish a more pronounced coconut flavor, which works exceptionally well if you're making a dish with Thai, South East Asian, or even Latin American influences.

Tortillas and Bread

In Mexico and other parts of Latin America, leftover tortillas (and/or masa) work as the key thickening agents in certain complex sauces, like mole, and soups. Just as you would with stale bread, soak tortilla strips in a small bowl of strained soup or broth, puree them in a blender, and add the mixture to your stock pot. Both bread and tortillas absorb liquid, so keep that in mind when determining how much to use.

Nuts and Seeds

Some cuisines, such as African and Spanish foods, use ground almonds, cashews, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts to thicken sauces, stews, and soups. You'll want to grind nuts with a mortar and pestle, or in a high-power blender, until they're close to becoming a paste. Take the nut paste, whisk it in some strained soup until combined, and then add it to your main pot. Aside from adding protein, nuts and seeds lend dishes an earthiness that's alluring and delicious.

Depending on the dish and its particular flavor profile, the options for how to thicken soup, sauce, or stock are as varied as the ingredients you can use within the dish. From tortilla pieces and potatoes to beans and nuts, the road to a velvety, thick sauce is only an ingredient or two (and some stirring) away. Happy experimenting!

How to Thicken Soup: Alternative Thickeners to Try (2024)

FAQs

How to Thicken Soup: Alternative Thickeners to Try? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot.

What is a good substitute for soup thickener? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot.

What is the secret ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Soup Thickening Method: Cornstarch Slurry

About this method: One of the most common ways to thicken sauces and soups is with a starch-based slurry, and cornstarch is a popular choice. Cornstarch is flavorless, easy to mix up, and versatile, which makes it a go-to pantry ingredient.

What is the 4 other thickening agents for soup? ›

  • Cornstarch. Cornstarch is the most common thickening agent used in the industry. ...
  • Pre-gelatinized Starches. Pre-gelatinized starches are mixed with sugar and then added to the water or juice. ...
  • Arrowroot. ...
  • Agar-Agar. ...
  • Algin (Sodium Alginate) ...
  • Gelatin. ...
  • Gum Arabic or Acacia. ...
  • Gum Tragacanth.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

What are the 4 ways to thicken a sauce or soup? ›

If that's the case, the solution is pretty simple.
  1. Thickening Sauces By Reducing.
  2. Thickening Sauces With Starch.
  3. Thickening Sauces With Egg Yolks.
  4. Thickening Sauces With Purees.
  5. Finishing Sauces With Butter.
Dec 29, 2022

How to thicken soup without changing flavor? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

What can I add to chicken broth to thicken it? ›

Here are three conventional thickeners:
  1. Just add Milk. Milk has often been an easy choice to thicken soups and broths for several reasons: You usually have some in your kitchen, it's easy to find some at your local grocer, and it's cheap. ...
  2. Make Roux for thicker soup (Butter and flour) ...
  3. Use Your Favorite Kind of Starch.

What is the healthiest thickening agent? ›

Easy-to-access alternatives are wheat flour, arrowroot flour, and rice flour. These are good alternatives to cornstarch because they are more nutritious and contain fewer carbohydrates and calories. Xanthan and guar gum are much stronger thickeners than cornstarch, but they can be harder to obtain and use.

What is the best food thickener for the elderly? ›

You don't need to use commercial thickeners for foods, since soup and other foods can be easily thickened with powdered potatoes (used for instant mashed potatoes), rice cereal, tapioca, or Jell-O, for example.

What is a natural food thickener? ›

One popular natural food thickener is agar agar, which is derived from seaweed and commonly used in vegan recipes. It can be used to create a firm gel-like texture and is often used in desserts such as jelly and custards. Another natural thickener is arrowroot, which is made from the root of the arrowroot plant.

What can I use instead of cornstarch to thicken soup? ›

5 Best Cornstarch Substitutes
  • All-Purpose Flour. Yep, that's right — all-purpose flour is a very stable thickener. ...
  • Arrowroot Powder. If you happen to have this starch on hand, you're in luck: It has the same thickening power as cornstarch, and it creates a beautiful, shiny sauce. ...
  • Potato Starch. ...
  • Rice Flour. ...
  • Tapioca Starch.
Jun 23, 2023

How much potato flakes to thicken soup? ›

Use 1 tablespoon of mashed potato flakes per 1 cup of liquid. You can add it directly to your soup or gravy without the need of a slurry (mixing it with water is a necessary step for cornstarch or flour). Stir, let thicken, add more as needed.

How to thicken black bean soup? ›

In a separate bowl, dissolve a teaspoon or two of cornstarch or all-purpose flour in a small amount of cold water. Add the slurry to the bubbling soup. The soup should thicken up. Add more cornstarch or flour as needed until the soup reaches your desired consistency.

What can I use instead of thicken sauce? ›

Ways To Thicken Sauce
  1. Tomato Paste. If your soup or stew is watery, adding tomato paste may help! ...
  2. Arrowroot. You might prefer to avoid gluten in your recipes. ...
  3. Flour. ...
  4. Reduce Your Liquid. ...
  5. Puréed Vegetables. ...
  6. Egg Yolk. ...
  7. Yogurt. ...
  8. Rice.
Jul 15, 2022

What can be used as a liquid thickener? ›

Soup broths and other flavored liquids can be thickened with household ingredients, such as:
  • Baby cereal.
  • Instant potato flakes.
  • Pureed baby food.
  • Blended fruit.
  • Corn flour.
Jan 1, 2018

What is the most commonly used thickening agent? ›

Cornstarch is the most common thickening agent used in the industry. It is mixed with water or juice and boiled to make fillings and to give a glossy semi-clear finish to products.

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