For all of the soup and chili lovers like us out there, you may be well-versed in the various types of soup (tomato soup, shellfish soup, cream soups, clam chowder soup, etc).
And in coming back to tried and true favorites, you might be a little bored with old favorites like tomato bisque and soup.
We get that, and bisque is a lesser-known variation of soup which can shake things up in your soup routine. In this blog post, we’re providing information about the difference between bisque versus soup.
2 different types of soup … ALL kinds of cozy and delicious! ;)
WHAT IS BISQUE?
Learning the difference between bisque versus soup couldn’t be simpler! Read on for information on the bisque definition, plus fun facts about its history, characteristics, ingredients, and how to make bisque soups!
HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF BISQUE
Bisque soup has French origins and is a thick, creamy texture type of soup. Traditionally, it is made with shellfish and thickened using paste from their shells!
In fact, Julia Child was one who popularized lobster bisque of french origin creamy soup in the United States.
BISQUE FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS
The main characteristic of bisque is that it is smooth and has a velvety texture. Most recipes will include a wine and cream to give it its signature flavor and texture.
But it's not only the choice of ingredient that makes this bisque thick soup different from other types of soups! It comes down to the ingredients, too.
COMMON BISQUE INGREDIENTS
Traditionally-made bisque contains fish flavors. But these days, bisque is often made without fish and includes ingredients like butternut squash, tomatoes, and other vegetables.
Almost all bisques are made using cream, and some even use cream to thicken the mixture!
HOW DO YOU MAKE BISQUE?
Often, bisque is made using a blender. Ingredients are cooked, then blended into a creamy pureed soup. Depending on the portions used, you may need to blend the mixture in batches of two or three for a smooth texture.
Make sure you remove the centerpiece of the blender lid in order to let the steam escape!
WHAT IS SOUP?
When determining the difference between bisque versus soup, we went to dictionary.com to crack the case! ;) Soup is, “a liquid food made by boiling or simmering meat, fish, or vegetables with various added ingredients.” Sounds about right to us!
Let’s learn a bit more about soup, shall we?
HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF SOUPS
Soup is one of the oldest and most beloved meal options. It’s believed the first bowl of soup was prepared around 20,000 BC. It’s even assumed that early people began cooking broths as soon as they discovered how to make clay pots.
Some historical documents mention other soups had become part of the regular menu in many civilizations from 6000 BC onwards.
SOUP FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS
Soup is a food that primarily consists of liquid ingredients, and it’s usually served warm or hot. However, some summer soup varieties are cool or served cold! Soup is made by combining ingredients of meat or vegetables with stock, milk, or water.
Hot soups are often characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.
COMMON SOUP INGREDIENTS
Did you know the most common soup ingredient is onions? Garlic, chicken broth or chicken stock, carrots, olive oil, tomatoes, and celery are also commonly used in soup recipes. Popular soup spices include oregano, thyme, parsley, basil, and cayenne pepper.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SOUP?
There are three main types of soup–brothy, chunky, or pureed. When considering the cooking process of soup, first think about which type of soup you want to make out of the three!
Cooking fat comes first, and butter is often used in French soups, while olive oil is a common cooking fat base in Italian soups! An aromatic ingredient, like garlic or onion, typically comes next. Stock or broth is an often-used liquid ingredient, and you can purchase beef, chicken, or vegetable broth for this purpose!
Last but not least, consider which meats and vegetables you want to use! The good news is that most vegetables and meats go together absolutely swimmingly, so you can mix and match all of your favorites into a homemade soup.
BISQUE VS SOUP: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
At the end of the day, all you have to remember is that bisque is just a specific kind of soup. So all bisques are soup, but not all soups are bisques.
Bisques are a creamy type of soup. In contrast, the broader scope of soups can include chunky or watery variations as well, not just creamy soups.
PROPER GOOD SOUPS
When trying several kinds of soups and bisques to see which are your favorites … Proper Good is here to help! We have many types of chunky soups and creamy bisques to fit any craving or mood. Not to mention a bevy of other benefits …
SHELF STABLE
Proper Good soups and bisques are shelf stable and keep fresh for several months. And they don’t require refrigeration! So just place Proper Good soups and bisques in your pantry to enjoy anytime.
If you’re a soup fiend (like us!) we also offer subscriptions to get your soup needs fixed every month. Subscribe and save 20 percent on every order, free shipping plus a bunch of other perks too!
ZERO PREP - 90 SECOND MEALS
For those days when you simply don’t have time to prepare soups or bisques from scratch, we’ve got your back! No prep whatsoever–just pop your favorite
Proper Good soup or bisque in the microwave, stovetop, or portable heater. From rainy days when you can’t make it to the grocery store, all the way to office lunches, Proper Good is a quick and easy meal option!
DIET-FRIENDLY OPTIONS/VARIETY
For those who are on a particular type of diet or have dietary preferences/restrictions, we have several different options just for YOU to eat soup!
Bookmark the links below to get your preferred Proper Good in a flash, or you can easily filter based on dietary preference on our website:
NUTRITIOUS, HEALTHY, AND EASY!
Best of all, Proper Good soups, bisques, and chilis are simple AND healthy … not to mention easy to make! The true trifecta of yummy-ness and practicality all rolled into one.
Bisque versus soup … soup versus bisque … which to choose! Now that you have a bisque definition handy and know the difference between these two tasty options, go forth and enjoy! Learn more about the different type of soups here.
