Popular for a variety of reasons, soup was actually served as one of the first fast foods.
There is documentation that as early as 600 B.C., the Greeks sold soup
as a fast food on the street, using peas, beans and lentils as main
ingredients.
Before there was soup, there was broth, which people used to pour over
a piece of bread in a bowl. That bread was known as sop, and from sop
came the word soup.
No matter what you call it, there are lots of variations on the basic
theme of soup, each offering a wide range of nutritional benefits.
Cream soups such as chowders and bisques are often high in calories and
fat due to the cream or milk content. Broth-based soups such as
consommes will typically be low in calories because of the high water
content. Soups loaded with beans and vegetables, such as chili and
gazpacho are great sources of fiber and phytochemicals (like lycopene).
Canned and condensed soups typically contain large amounts of sodium to
enhance the flavor.
One element that can make or break a soup is the stock you use. These days supermarkets carry some top quality ones, but making your own isn't that difficult or time consuming. Here are some great tips for making your own stock from Garden and Hearth
The most recognized soup company in the world is the Campbell Soup Company. It was founded in 1869, and originally called the Joseph A. Campbell Preserve Company. The business produced canned tomatoes, vegetables, jellies, soups, condiments, and minced meats. In 1897, the general manager of the company, reluctantly hired his 24-year-old nephew to join the company. Dr. John T. Dorrance, a chemist who had trained in Europe, was so determined to join Campbell that he agreed to pay for laboratory equipment out of his own pocket and accept a token salary of just $7.50 per week.
Dr. Dorrance quickly made his mark on history with the invention of condensed soup in 1897. By eliminating the water in canned soup, he lowered the costs for packaging, shipping, and storage. This made it possible to offer a 10-ounce can of Campbell's condensed soup for a dime, versus more than 30 cents for a typical 32-ounce can of soup. The idea became so hot with Americans that in 1922, the company formally adopted "Soup" as its middle name.
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