Sour soup is a dish with roots in a variety of world cuisines. Some of the most popular soup dishes are Chinese hot and sour soup and German sweet and sour soup. Each sour soup includes special spices and vegetables that add a tangy taste to the dish without adding unnecessary calories.
A sour soup is typically made with vinegar and or lemon juice. This gives the soup a tart flavor that is normally offset with other spicy or sweet ingredients. Sour soups are often low in protein, but can be high in fat, depending on the ingredients.
Hot and sour soup is a Chinese soup that includes both spicy and sour flavors. This soup is made from red or white peppers with vinegar, which gives it a hot and sour taste. The soup typically includes tofu or pork as the primary meat and may contain red cabbage.
Sweet and sour soup is a cabbage-based soup made with sweet fruits. It traditionally includes either pineapple or golden delicious apples, which gives it a sweet underlying flavor. Sweet and sour soups use apple vinegar as the primary sour ingredient. These soups are often served with the main course of red meats or poultry dishes.
Lemon rasam is another example of a hot and sour soup. This Indian dish is made from hot spicy green chilies with sour lemon juice. Lemon rasam is a well-known dish in most Indian restaurants that has a slight spicy kick with a refreshing sour tang.
Tom yum soup is a hot soup that was derived from Thai cuisine. This soup is made from red chili peppers, lemon grass, and limes. It is one of the spicier versions of hot and sour soup and should be sipped slowly to ensure it doesn’t burn the tongue.
Most of these soups are available as vegetarian dishes. Meatless variations on these recipes often include mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and small amounts of tofu. Soups are great for diet-conscious people because they are low in fat and high in flavor. The spices in the soup also curb the appetite.
Chinese sweet and sour is another example of a sour soup dish. It is made with soy sauce, mushrooms, chicken, vinegar, and lemon. This soup doesn’t have the same spicy kick as hot soup, but is a tangy appetizer that can be enjoyed with most meals.