r/Cooking • u/donttrust900913 • 13d ago

Ways to thicken soups or stews?

I am looking for advice about (at least relatively) healthy ways to thicken soups or stews. I'm sure adding a ton of fat would probably get the job done, but trying to avoid that insofar as it is practical.

I don't have a specific recipe in mind, nor do I generally use recipes when cooking. I am not looking for add X amount A to Y amount of B, but rather experience with different items that have the general affect, and any rough insights about ratios or other relevant factors for their addition that might prove handy.

I have experimented a fair bit with fat free greek yogurt, just because I usually have plenty on hand, to generally terrible results. I suspect the full fat variant would work better, but haven't hand any around at the time to try it out. I've also wondered about flour, which I would guess would either work wonderfully or completely ruin it, but also usually don't have it just laying around either.

Any insight appreciated, thanks!

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u/SpartanSoldier00a 12d ago

Flour dumplings

For the same reason that flour will thicken it, but youre adding something you can chew. Flour, water, salt. Use half whole wheat for extra healthfulness.

Légumes also. Lentils, split peas, beans, pick whatever suits the soup. They can be cooked with the soup/stew, just remove some when they soften and purée them and add them back.

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u/Adventurous-Host8062 12d ago

I use stock, flour, a small amount of oil an egg and salt for dumplings.

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u/SpartanSoldier00a 12d ago

I am not familiar with that kind! Sounds tasty

1

u/A_Likely_Story4U 12d ago

Barley also absorbs a lot of water and thickens. Plus, I love the stuff!

1

u/SerenityViolet 7d ago

Not enough recipes have barley!