Creamy Pasta Soup Recipe (vegan) - Elavegan (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for milk in creamy soup? ›

Coconut Milk. Coconut milk is a popular substitute for heavy cream in many soups, stews, and curries.

Traditional cream soups derive their smooth texture from liberal amounts of milk or cream, thickened with flour or cornstarch. Now when we make soups that are creamy, chances are they contain no cream at all: They're likely thickened with purees made from starchy vegetables.

Mix mix 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth then stir into the soup. May need to double or triple that depending on how much soup you have. Simmer gently to thicken. The advantage of arrowroot starch over cornstarch is that it does not break down as quickly when heated.

Alternatively, you could cook the pasta separately and add to the soup at the last moment. This will ensure the pasta and the soup are cooked perfectly. This also works well for re-heating the soup as the pasta can be added at the last minute, helping to keep it al dente.

Best Non-Dairy Milk for Soups: Coconut Milk

We've found the best substitute to be full-fat canned coconut milk, and have swapped it in as a dairy substitute for many of the classics, like cream of broccoli, creamy tomato and cream of mushroom.

Coconut milk: Coconut milk can work as a milk alternative, but keep in mind it has a strong coconut flavor and a high fat content. It's good at adding creamy body and texture, but if you're adding it to a recipe make sure the coconut flavor will pair well. Soy milk: Soy milk is another non-dairy option.

For all the vegans and lactose-free folks out there, you can mix one part coconut cream with one part of your preferred plant-based milk to approximate half and half. Soy, almond, cashew, oat, or rice milk will all work.

You can add a creamy substance, either ordinary cream, milk, or coconut milk, but which works best will depend on the flavors already on the soup. If you've made your souo with beans, potatoes, or rice, blending part of it and returning it to the pot will make everything creamier.

Whole milk or half-and-half also thicken up the soup. I've even made it with half the amount (1/2 cup or 120ml) heavy cream in a pinch. (Add more chicken broth if you use heavy cream; see recipe Note.) Nice and thick, without being too heavy.

Soy milk and olive oil

For a vegan dairy-free alternative to heavy cream, try mixing soy milk with olive oil. Much like the pairing of milk and butter, olive oil adds fat to the soy milk for a flavor and function comparable to heavy cream.

How to make vegan soup thicker? ›

Xanthan Gum

A popular ingredient in both gluten-free and vegan baking, xanthan gum can also be used to thicken vegan sauces, stews, and soups. To thicken a gravy or sauce with xanthan gum, start by making a slurry with a small amount of xanthan gum and water. Slowly add the slurry to your dish and then mix well.

You can DIY a version of heavy cream by blending soy milk and a light neutral oil like grapeseed or avocado, to get that creamy and fatty combo in a vegan-safe alternative. Use a two-to-one ratio of soy milk and oil for this mixture.

Noodles left to simmer in soup for too long become slimy and overly soft, and they can break down and make your soup too starchy. If you're adding them on reheating, you can add uncooked pasta after the soup is simmering steadily and cook it for 10 minutes or cook your pasta separately and add it just before serving.

Ditalini. Ditalini, literally translated to “l*ttle fingers,” is a small, tubular pasta commonly found in Italian and Sicilian cuisines. Because of its small size (you can fit a few into a spoon), this pasta is perfect for soups.

She would gently fry the pasta in a pan until it was slightly golden brown before adding it to the broth. She always said frying it first added more flavor to the soup, and she wasn't wrong. You can also boil the pasta separately and add the cooked pasta to the broth, but I highly suggest trying it this way first.

Water is the ideal vehicle to bring all the flavor out of your soup and stew ingredients without imparting any of its own. This is nothing new, in fact: There are long traditions in Italy and France, for example, of making many soups with plain water as the vehicle.

Water can be used in most recipes that call for milk.