Lemon Juice Can Give Your Soup The Extra Zest It Needs (2024)

nicole anderson

·3 min read

Lemon Juice Can Give Your Soup The Extra Zest It Needs (1)

Soup can be polarizing. Some people rave about the warmth and comfort a hearty bowl of soup can bring, while others view it as bland, boring, and lacking substance. If you find yourself less than enthusiastic about cooking or consuming soup for a meal, there's a good chance you haven't unlocked the depth of flavor a well-seasoned bowl can provide.

One of the best ways to brighten up your soup? Add some acid, especially in the form of citrus. While lemon is the star of the show in recipes like lemon chicken orso soup, it also pairs wonderfully with aclassic chicken noodle. In this case, however, the lemon provides more of a flavor undertone that enhances other seasonings like thyme, parsley, and turmeric.

According to trained chef Leetal Arazi, who spoke with Real Simple, you can bring a "zesty flavor" to your soup simply by adding lemon. The juice alone will add a sharpness to the dish that balances out the other ingredients, but a more intense acid, like preserved lemon, can also incorporate some savory umami elements. This is because preserved lemons change during the fermentation process, becoming more concentrated and deep in flavor. Of course, if you can't get your hands on this paste, lemon juice is an easily accessible alternative that still provides the citrus your soup needs.

Read more: 12 Little-Known Facts About Salt

Always Add An Acid To Your Soups

Lemon Juice Can Give Your Soup The Extra Zest It Needs (2)

Lemon is arguably even more essential in richer soups like wild mushroom and rice, curried split pea, or even white bean and bacon. This is because the delicate balance of flavor profiles requires that acidic, lemony zing to cut through the fats in the soup. Samin Nosrat unpacks this idea in her award-winning cookbook, "Salt Fat Acid Heat." She explains that these elements, when combined,strengthen a dishby using "salt to enhance, fat to carry, and acid to balance flavor."

Since wild mushroom soups are typically cream-based, there's a lot of fat incorporated into the recipe, along with the rich umami mushrooms. Similarly, using an array of spices or fatty cuts of meat can create an overbearing flavor. While salt can be added to balance out this richness, using lemon instead will actually be more effective. This is because the acid from the lemon cuts through the fat and balances out the spices. Using lemon zest on top of each bowl is also a great garnish that provides a zesty punch in every bite.

It's not uncommon to look at a soup recipe and assume the lemon would be out of place or wouldn't combine well with the other flavors, but adding lemon juice to an entire pot of soup likely won't be noticeable. Similar to salt, it will simply heighten the flavorsyou already taste, making it the perfect acid to incorporate into your dishes.

Read the original article on Mashed.

Lemon Juice Can Give Your Soup The Extra Zest It Needs (2024)

FAQs

Lemon Juice Can Give Your Soup The Extra Zest It Needs? ›

In this case, however, the lemon provides more of a flavor undertone that enhances other seasonings like thyme, parsley, and turmeric. According to trained chef Leetal Arazi, who spoke with Real Simple, you can bring a "zesty flavor" to your soup simply by adding lemon.

What does lemon juice do to a soup? ›

Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line. Like a vinaigrette on a salad, the pickle on a burger, and the sour cream in a coffee cake, a squeeze of lemon gives chicken soup a game-changing brightness.

How much lemon juice for zest? ›

Lemon Juice

That said, the lemon flavor is not as concentrated as lemon zest, so you'll want to keep this formula handy: 1 teaspoon of lemon zest = 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

What does lemon zest add to a dish? ›

Adds brightness to savory dishes such as pastas and tomato dishes, and often you can't identify the exact flavor - a chef's dream - a secret ingredient. Lemon dessert recipes call for it because of the intensity of flavor it adds without watering anything down, which juice would do.

Why use lemon zest instead of juice? ›

This layer contains loads of natural oils that are full or flavor and not as acidic as the tart juice. For this reason, lemon zest is used to infuse concentrated amounts of sweet, citrus flavor into a variety of dishes.

When should you add lemon zest to soup? ›

Many recipes use lemon in the beginning of the recipe, but for soup, you'll want to wait and add the lemon towards the end of the cooking process to retain its vibrancy. Start with the juice or zest of half a lemon, then add more as desired.

Is lemon zest necessary? ›

Do You Have To Use the Lemon Zest in a Recipe? Skipping the lemon zest in a recipe is up to you! Your recipe likely won't be ruined without it, but if you're making something like lemon curd bars, or lemon pound cake, you probably should use an alternative, or go pick up a lemon.

What can I use if I don't have enough lemon zest? ›

freshly grated lemon zest substitute, try any of these swaps:
  1. ½ tsp. lemon extract.
  2. 2 Tbsp. bottled lemon juice.
  3. 1 tsp. lime zest or other citrus zest, if you happen to have grapefruit, oranges, or other options in the kitchen.
Nov 3, 2022

Does lemon zest get bitter when cooked? ›

The last bit of advice with cooking with lemon is true for both zest and juice. Don't add it too early to a dish — when it's still cooking and very hot. When introduced to too much heat for too long, lemon can easily turn bitter and even discolor other ingredients being cooked with it.

What is the best thing to do with lemon zest? ›

Add a pinch to salad dressing, pancake batter, cookie dough, meringue, ice cream, granola, herb butter, meat marinade—there isn't much that a little citrus zest won't improve. Use it as a garnish and sprinkle some on top of whipped cream, chocolate bark, or meringue before baking.

Should you wash a lemon before zesting? ›

The first thing you need to do is wash the lemons. In fact, I suggest always washing any produce you are about to prepare. Handling and chopping dirty produce just leaves too many opportunities for contamination. Before doing so, remove any stickers.

Can lemon zest spoil milk? ›

There are instances in which you only want the freshness of the lemon flavor but not the sourness. One example would be when you are working with dairy. The acidity can curdle milk. You would use zest in this case.

Can you drink lemon zest? ›

The rind of the lemon can be zested and added to baked goods, tea, soup, and beverages of all kinds. Here are a few ways to prepare this versatile and vibrant fruit: Make a classic, ice-cold lemonade with organic sugar or sugar alternative and water.

What does lemon juice do in cooking? ›

In baked goods and desserts, lemons provide a light, fresh flavour. Plus, it can be used to tenderise meat, or it can be used as a substitute for vinegar in dressings. Lemon juice added to steamed vegetables will help them keep their bright colours and enhance their flavour.

Does lemon juice help thicken? ›

Lack of acidity: Acids like lemon juice help lower the jam mixture's pH, which reacts with the natural or added pectin to help thicken the jam. If a jam recipe doesn't call for lemon juice or lime juice, it could rely on another ingredient, like added pectin, to set the jam.

Why does lemon juice make everything taste better? ›

They make everything taste better! This is because, like salt, the acidity makes your mouth water. And saliva acts as a solvent for taste substances, which allows your taste buds to pick up more flavor.

Does lemon thicken mucus? ›

Lemon – Lemons and other citrus fruits are natural decongestants, loosening phlegm so it's easier to expel from the body. They also contain Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. Garlic – Garlic contains allicin, which has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

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