SOS Mix and Soups

SOS can stand for a lot of things--a signal for help, a not very nice code name for a certain food in the military, sense of security, etc.  But here and now, SOS stands for soup or sauce.  (SOS Mix is also known as "Cream of Whatever Soup Mix" in some circles.)  It is a mix very similar to Magic Mix, but with an exclusive focus on soups and sauces for lunch or dinner.

And--get this--unlike Magic Mix, SOS Mix is completely fat-free and gluten-free.  On top of that, it doesn't need to be refrigerated!  Pretty exciting, huh?  But wait!  There's more!  SOS Mix is made with long term storage items--dry milk, cornstarch, and dehydrated onions, plus instant chicken bouillon (which can by DIYed pretty easily as long as you have canned chicken or fresh chickens).  Other benefits of using this mix, where appropriate, are that it's lower in calories and much less expensive than using butter or coconut oil.  What's not to love?  Oh, and did I mention that it's even easier to mix up than Magic Mix?  (And for those that can't have dairy, SOS mix also apparently works well with a powdered soy milk.)

SOS Mix

• 2 cups dry milk
• 3/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup instant chicken bouillon
• 2 tablespoons dehydrated chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon each basil, parsley, pepper, and thyme (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a plastic container or zippered bag.  This recipe substitutes for the equivalent of 9 cans of cream soup.  Quite the savings!

To replace one can of cream soup in a recipe, combine 1/3 cup of SOS mix with 1 1/4 cups of water in a small saucepan.  Whisk well, until no lumps remain, and cook and stir on the stove until thickened.  Then use as you would a can of cream soup.

This mix will substitute very well for canned cream soups and as the base for other soups.

Cream of Chicken Soup
1/3 cup SOS Mix
1 1/4 cups cold water (may use chicken broth for the water and omit the chicken bouillon)
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon, optional

Whisk water into SOS Mix until well blended.  Cook and stir on stove over medium-low heat until thickened.  Substitutes for one can of cream of chicken soup.

Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/3 cup SOS Mix
1 1/4 cups cold water and reserved mushroom liquid
4 oz can mushrooms

Drain mushrooms and reserve liquid.  Add enough water to reserved liquid to make 1 1/4 cups.  Whisk water into SOS Mix until well blended.  Cook and stir on stove over medium-low heat until thickened and add mushrooms.    Heat thoroughly.  Substitutes for one can of cream of mushroom soup.

Cream of Celery Soup
1/3 cup SOS Mix
1 1/4 cups cold water
1/3 cup celery, chopped (fresh or rehydrated)

Whisk water into SOS Mix until well blended.  Cook and stir on stove over medium-low heat until thickened and add celery.    Heat thoroughly.  Substitutes for one can of cream of celery soup.

Simple Potato Soup
2/3 cup SOS Mix
2 1/2 cups cold water
2 cups cubed, cooked potatoes

Whisk water into SOS Mix until well blended.  Cook and stir on stove over medium-low heat until thickened.

Cream of Tomato Soup
1/3 cup SOS Mix
1 1/4 cups cold water
2 cups tomato sauce

Whisk water into SOS Mix until well blended.  Cook and stir on stove over medium-low heat until thickened.  Stir in tomato sauce.  Heat thoroughly.

Note:  This yields three servings of tomato soup.  It is not a substitute for canned tomato soup.

Review:  I like the taste of this version of tomato soup just fine.  With the herbs from the SOS Mix, there is a bit of different flavor to it, and it's good.  However, what I really did not like was that the saltine crackers that I normally add to my tomato soup went soggy very, very quickly.  When I use Magic Mix to make tomato soup, the crackers do not get soggy.  Of course, because Magic Mix is made with butter or coconut oil, it has much more fat than SOS Mix, and the same would go for soups made from them.

Broccoli Cheese Soup
1/3 cup SOS Mix
1 1/4 cups cold water
1/3 cup broccoli (fresh or rehydrated freeze-dried or dehydrated)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (fresh or rehydrated freeze-dried)

Whisk water into SOS Mix until well blended.  Cook and stir on stove over medium-low heat until thickened.  Stir in broccoli and cheese.  Heat thoroughly.

Yield:  2 servings

Taco Soup
1 pound hamburger
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
1/3 cup SOS Mix
2 cups water
1 can (15 oz) corn, undrained
1 can (10 oz) Ro-Tel, or similar product, undrained
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon oregano
1/2 bag tortilla chips
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream, optional

Brown beef and onion in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.  Drain fat.  In a small bowl, whisk SOS Mix and water together until thoroughly blended.  Add to hamburger and onion, and stir in remaining ingredients, except chips, cheese, and sour cream.  Heat thoroughly.  To serve, crush several tortilla chips in each bowl, fill with soup, and garnish with 1 tablespoon of cheese and sour cream, if desired.

Yield:  8 servings.

Review:  This is seriously good soup.  Super easy and a favorite with the whole family, so I make it often in the winter.

Links to related posts:

DIY Chicken Bouillon
Magic Mix
Powdered Milk   
Cream Soups from Magic Mix   

For further reading:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1114&context=extension_curall
https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/sos-mix/
https://thethriftycouple.com/sos-mix-recipes-soup-or-sauce-mix-as-a-frugal-replacement-to-canned-creamed-soups-and-more/
https://fabulesslyfrugal.com/recipes/sos-mix-diy-cream-of-anything-soup/
https://www.21stcenturysimpleliving.com/soup-or-sauce-sos-master-batch-mix/

 10.4.19