What constitutes a great soup?

 

I think the best example that comes to mind is a rich, highly reduced stock that is unsalted until its finished cooking cycle. Good soup reduces with time. The white pork broth found in Tonkotsu Ramen takes boiling pork bones slowly for 14 hours. Chicken thighs take 4 hour on a reducing boil over low heat

Madeira,  Port, Marin, oyster sauce.

Strange Soup Modeled liberly from African Bitter Leaf Soup

 

1/3 Cups raw, ground pumpkin seeds
I large potato, cut into large lumps

2 tomatoes, quartered

2 cloves Garlic, minced

2 tsp. Concentrated tomato paste

1 lg. onion, cut into large slices

Salt

Red pepper

1 lb. chicken wings

1 cup kale or spinach

1/3 cup of olive oil

1/3 tsp turmeric

1/3 cup chopped parsley

Sauté chicken in olive oil until slightly browned*. Add 1 of chicken stock. Add potatoes, tomatoes, raw pumpkin seeds, garlic, onion, salt, turmeric, parsley, red pepper, and tomato paste. Cook 30 minutes. Add kale that has been chopped. When the kale is done, add two tablespoons of sherry. 

Simmer 10 min, soup is ready to serve.

* chicken and diced onion or leeks(white portion) can be cook together for more flavor.

In the picture above, the soup is serve with steamed bread made from pounded plantains. This picture does not show clearly, it’s made from chicken wings. Feel free to add chilies or even beef or shrimp. Marrow bones and added scallions might be nice.