Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup is a popular canned soup product made by the Campbell Soup Company. It features a smooth, velvety texture and robust asparagus flavor. But what exactly is in this beloved soup variety?
The ingredients in Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup provide its characteristic creamy texture and taste. By examining the can’s ingredient list, we can gain insight into how this soup achieves its rich, indulgent profile.
Ingredient List
Here is the full list of ingredients found in Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup:
- Water
- Asparagus
- Milk
- Wheat Flour
- Modified Food Starch
- Contains Less Than 2% of: Salt, Cream, Soybean Oil, Monosodium Glutamate, Butter, Sugar, Spice, Mono and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Yeast Extract, Artificial Color.
Let’s break down the key ingredients and examine their purpose in this soup.
Main Ingredients
Water
Water is the primary ingredient in Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup. Water forms the base of the soup, allowing the other ingredients to come together in a smooth, spoonable liquid.
Without water, this soup would be much thicker and drier. The high water content gives the soup a thinner, more pourable consistency while still allowing for a velvety texture when creamy dairy ingredients are added.
Asparagus
Naturally, asparagus is essential for providing the namesake flavor in this cream of asparagus soup. Chopped asparagus spears give the soup its distinctive vegetable taste and color.
Asparagus contains vitamin K, folate, and various antioxidants. It provides a serving of vegetables and brings the savory, earthy flavors that people expect from cream of asparagus soup.
Milk
Milk is key for achieving the signature creamy texture of this soup. Milk contains proteins like casein that help thicken and emulsify the soup. When heated, these proteins interact to create a smooth, creamy consistency.
The natural fats in milk also coat the palate, accentuating the soup’s rich mouthfeel. Milk gives cream of asparagus soup its indulgent taste and velvety quality.
Wheat Flour
Wheat flour works as a thickening agent in this soup recipe. When mixed with liquid and heated, wheat flour gelatinizes and absorbs water, increasing the soup’s viscosity.
This results in a thicker, heartier texture. The starch in wheat flour gives the soup more body compared to if it only contained water and vegetables.
Modified Food Starch
Modified food starch, derived from crops like corn, wheat, or potato, is another thickener utilized in Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup.
It contributes to the soup’s lush texture and helps suspend the asparagus pieces throughout the liquid. The added viscosity provides a more substantial mouthfeel.
Supporting Ingredients
The ingredients listed below 2% content still play an important role by enriching flavor and texture:
- Salt – Sodium chloride that seasons the soup and enhances overall flavor.
- Cream – Thickens soup and provides a rich dairy taste.
- Soybean Oil – Adds some fat and silkiness.
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – Flavor enhancer that boosts umami taste.
- Butter – Contributes extra creamy, buttery richness.
- Sugar – Balances flavor and aids asparagus sweetness.
- Spice – Generic term for added spices to round out seasoning.
- Mono and Diglycerides – Emulsifiers that bind ingredients together.
- Dipotassium Phosphate – Helps stabilize and thicken soup.
- Soy Lecithin – Another emulsifier for smooth texture.
- Natural Flavor – Additional flavors (likely plant-based) for complexity.
- Yeast Extract – Adds savory, umami taste.
- Artificial Color – Maintains vibrancy and visual appeal.
While minimal in quantity, these supplementary ingredients work together to give Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup its signature indulgent taste and velvety texture.
Nutrition Facts
Now let’s examine the nutrition facts for a 1 cup serving of Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 |
| Total Fat | 10 g |
| Sodium | 840 mg |
| Total Carbs | 16 g |
| Protein | 5 g |
Key aspects to note:
- High in calories, fat, and sodium – reflects the rich, indulgent nature of this cream-based soup.
- Has over 800 mg sodium per serving – accounts for its salty, savory taste.
- Total carbs are moderate while protein is lower – ingredients are focused on texture rather than protein.
The nutrition information confirms this soup’s status as a higher-calorie comfort food. Sodium, fat, and total calories are elevated compared to a clear broth soup. This aligns with the ingredient list showcasing its creamy, decadent profile.
Common Food Allergens
Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup contains some major food allergens to be aware of:
- Milk – Contains milk as an ingredient.
- Wheat – Includes wheat flour.
- Soy – Features both soybean oil and soy lecithin.
Those with dairy, wheat, or soy allergies should avoid this soup due to the presence of these ingredients. Always check the label carefully regarding food allergen contents.
The milk, wheat, and soy are all significant contributors to the soup’s creamy texture and richer taste. Individuals avoiding these foods will need to select alternative cream soup varieties.
Ingredients Summary
To summarize key points regarding the ingredients in Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup:
- Water forms the liquid base.
- Chopped asparagus gives vegetable flavor and color.
- Milk and dairy ingredients provide creaminess and richness.
- Thickening agents like wheat flour and food starch lend a velvety texture.
- Salt, butter, and flavor enhancers boost the indulgent taste.
- Contains common allergens milk, wheat, and soy.
- Delivers higher fat, calories, and sodium as a cream-based soup.
Understanding the ingredients offers insight into the beloved creaminess, texture, taste, and nutrition profile that fans expect from Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup.
Comparisons to Other Cream Soups
Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup has a similar ingredient profile to other creamy condensed soup varieties like cream of mushroom and cream of celery. Let’s compare key ingredients across these cream soups:
| Ingredient | Asparagus | Mushroom | Celery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | X | X | X |
| Wheat Flour | X | X | X |
| Vegetable (namesake) | X | X | X |
| MSG | X | X | X |
| Modified Starch | X | X | X |
Key observations:
- All contain milk and wheat flour as creamy thickening agents.
- Each highlights its namesake vegetable flavor.
- MSG is present in every variety for an umami boost.
- Modified starch helps stabilize the texture uniformly.
While the distinguishing vegetable changes, these cream soups share core ingredients driving the indulgent effect fans love. This explains the consistent creaminess and richness across Campbell’s condensed soup portfolio.
Possible Alternatives and Substitutions
For those wishing to modify or avoid certain ingredients in Campbell’s cream of asparagus soup, some possible substitutions include:
- Non-dairy milk – Replace milk with non-dairy alternatives like almond, soy or oat milk.
- All-purpose gluten-free flour – Substitute wheat flour with gluten-free options.
- Xanthan gum – Use to mimic thickening effect of modified food starch.
- Nutritional yeast – Provides savory umami taste instead of MSG.
- Olive oil – Replaces soybean oil to avoid soy.
- Homemade soup – Create cream of asparagus soup from scratch control ingredients.
Modifying components like the dairy, thickeners, and oils allows people to enjoy a similar version of this soup while catering to individual dietary needs and preferences. Homemade also allows complete personalization.
Conclusion
Campbell’s popular cream of asparagus soup manages to achieve an indulgent, velvety texture and robust flavor based on its key ingredients. Milk, wheat flour, asparagus, and thickeners provide its signature creaminess, while salt, MSG, and other flavor-boosting components enrich the taste.
The ingredient list also gives insights into the soup’s high sodium, fat, and calorie amounts compared to clear soups. By understanding the components that make up this beloved pantry staple, we gain appreciation for the science and care behind Campbell’s crave-worthy cream soup recipes.
So next time you crack open a can for a comforting meal, you can better appreciate all the ingredients responsibly for that velvety, heartwarming experience.