Homemade Onion Soup Mix Recipe - Happy Mothering (2024)

FAQs

What can I use in place of onion soup mix? ›

Stir onion flakes, beef bouillon granules, onion powder, parsley flakes, celery seed, paprika, and black pepper together in a bowl. Use as a substitute for a 1-ounce envelope of dry onion soup mix.

Typically, a package of dried soup mix will maintain its best quality for about 18 to 24 months if stored properly. The "expiration" or "best by" dates on the packaging are indicators of peak quality rather than safety, indicating that the product may still be safe to consume beyond these dates.

Onion soup mix is usually found in the soups section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Introduced in 1952, Lipton onion soup mix is a relic of a specific time in American food, especially when compared to today's wellness-obsessed culture. Two years after its debut, a still-unidentified genius had the brilliant idea to combine the packet of soup mix with a container of sour cream, and a legend was born.

What is the Difference Between Onion Soup and French Onion Soup? French onion soup is always made with beef stock. Other onion soups can be made with chicken, vegetable, or beef stock. Additionally, French onion soup typically contains wine or sherry, which isn't typical or necessary in other onion soups.

A few sprigs of thyme and a bay leaf elevate the soup even more, but I take it a step further, adding a splash of fish sauce for complexity and depth—don't worry, it won't taste fishy—and a hit of cider vinegar to balance some of that oniony sweetness.

Note, this is not truly an expiration date. The mixes will never “spoil”, but dry ingredients will continue to dry and, over time, lose some of their flavor and visual appeal.

Soups in cartons and packets: If you are using soup from a carton beyond the “use by” date, let your nose be your guide, Frost says, and check for cloudiness and odor. Once it is opened, store the soup in the refrigerator and use it within two weeks. Dehydrated and dried soups keep for a very long time.

It depends on the brand but mainstream dried soups contain lots of salt, hidden sugars, fillers, and preservatives to increase shelf life of the product. As with almost anything, homemade is better.

France

French onion soup / Origin

Can I use old onion soup mix? ›

Expired onion soup mix can generally be considered a safe pantry staple beyond its printed expiration date. Principle concerns revolve around flavor and potency, rather than safety.

The French flavor base called mirepoix is a combination of onion, carrot and celery generally cut to the same size. It's used in a ratio that's 2 parts onion to 1 part celery and carrot. Mirepoix is the start of many French dishes, such as coq au vin and lamb stew.

The Onion Soup, a traditional and warming dish

It has even become a trendy dish that tourists are eager to try to experience French gastronomy. However, onion soup is in fact not part of French people's daily meals. It was originally meant to be eaten after a family reunion in the middle of the night to cure hangovers…

Wounded Viking warriors ate strong onion soup.

If a man was wounded in the stomach during a battle, women would feed them a potent onion soup. If they could smell the broth through the wound, they knew the stomach wall was cut—signaling that the man would not survive his wounds.

So, French onion soup's deep, rich flavor and aroma make it the ultimate comfort food. This classic dish is made by simmering onions in butter until they become caramelized, beef broth, and a splash of sherry or brandy. The soup is finished by baking it with a crust of Gruyere cheese on top.

What can you use instead of onion powder? Instead of onion powder you can use: grated fresh onion, shallots, fennel bulbs, scallions, garlic powder, onion salt, or celery.

One tablespoon of onion powder equals one cup of fresh onion

Because onion powder is so potent, you'll need a greater amount of fresh onion as a substitute. If your recipe calls for one tablespoon of onion powder, you'll have to use an entire cup of fresh onion to achieve the same onion flavor.