How To Make Soup Less Spicy: BEST Fixes!
A bowl of soup can be one of the most delicious and comforting meals that you’ll ever make, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll love adding a little chilli to give it a warming and satisfying kick.
But what can you do when you end up making it just way too spicy to enjoy?
Maybe you accidentally bought a hotter variety of chilli, or perhaps you were a little too generous with a jar of dried chilli flakes.
Either way, the good news is that you have several options for fixing too spicy soup. Here’s what you need to know…
How to make soup less spicy
In a rush? Here’s the short answer…
You can tone down spicy soup by adding more base ingredients, adding dairy such as a swirl of cream or cheese, adding more of the broth or stock, adding a dash of acid such as white wine, adding a little butter or olive oil, or simply serving your soup alongside side dishes such as buttered bread or a delicious cheese toastie!
Keep reading for more in-depth details and explanations on exactly how to make soup less spicy…
1. Add more of the base ingredients
If you’ve overdone it with the spice, you can simply dilute the heat by adding in more of your other ingredients.
Meat, veggies, rice, pasta, and potatoes will all work here, and they’ll absorb some of the liquid and in turn the excessive spice.
Don’t be scared to get a little creative here and use up any odds and ends that you’ve got lurking in your fridge.
Some of the best soups I’ve ever made have been the result of a little trial and error when trying to fix something that went wrong!
Just make sure that you keep a note of what you’ve used, so you can recreate your soup in the future if you decide that you really love it.
2. Add some dairy
Adding dairy is a tried and tested way to tone down spice in food, and it works for a huge variety of dishes.
Of course, this includes soup!
This is because dairy contains a protein called casein, and this can break down the capsaicin, which is the molecule found in chilli peppers that’s responsible for making food spicy.
A swirl of cream, natural yoghurt, or even whole milk can help you to tone down the heat of too-spicy soup.
Add a little at a time and taste as you go, until you’ve achieved the desired result.
If you’re dairy free, you could try coconut milk or nut milk, but do be mindful that this could change the overall flavour profile.
3. Add more of the broth
If you have leftover broth or stock from making your soup, you can simply add this to the pot to dilute down the spicy flavours.
Another option would be to add more water.
In this instance, you’ll need to taste as you go and make sure that you consider adding more seasoning if necessary.
4. Add a dash of acidity
That pesky capsaicin is an alkaline, and that means that it’s neutralised by acidic ingredients.
The good news here is that you likely have several of these ingredients in your cupboard to choose from!
You could add a squeeze of lemon or lime, a splash of white wine, or a dash of vinegar.
If you’re a keen home cook who’s always looking to improve their game, you’ll be interested to know that acid is also a fantastic way to add extra vibrancy and freshness to a huge variety of different dishes, and many chefs consider it to be their secret ingredient.
I add it to soups, chillis, stews, and even curries!
5. Add a little butter or olive oil
Butter and olive oil are well known for making food more delicious, but did you know that they can also help when your soup is too spicy?
This will retain the overall flavour, but the fatty element will break down some of the capsicum.
Fat also plays a big part in helping to create a really satisfying bowlful that’s full of flavour.
Even if you’re attempting to make a lunch that’s lighter on the waistline, it’s worth allowing a bit of butter or oil to help ramp up the satisfaction levels.
6. Add some sugar or honey
Adding an element of sweetness is another kitchen trick that can help you to make soup less spicy.
Sugar is the easiest solution, but if you don’t have any in your pantry right now, you could substitute for a little honey or maple syrup.
This method tends to work best for thick, chunky style soups, as well as dishes like chilli, chowder, and stews.
Just make sure to add a touch of sweetness at a time, and taste.
You don’t want to end up with soup that tastes more like a dessert!
7. Serve your soup with some extra side dishes
If you want to tone down the spice a little, just add some side dishes at the table!
Blander options like buttered bread, or a cheese toastie, are delicious and they help to make soup into a meal that will definitely keep you full for longer.
For more inspiration, visit my guide to what to serve with tomato soup, and what to serve with lentil soup.
This method is one of my favourites when it comes to serving soup up to a group of people who all have different preferences and tolerances for spice.
Final thoughts on making soup less spicy
Finding that the meal you’ve just made is too hot for you (or your loved ones) to handle is always disappointing, but it doesn’t have to ruin dinnertime!
Most home cooks will have a range of choices to help them to tone down spicy soup, just using ingredients that they already have in the fridge or pantry.
Whether you want to swirl in a little cream, add a splash of lime juice, or just make up a batch of yummy cheese toasties to add as a side dish, there are many choices that can save your meal.
Love soup? Get some more mealtime ideas by checking out what to serve with tortellini soup!
