How to Use Milk Powder in Soups and Sauces: Recipes & Tips
Written by Jheelum Basu | May 31, 2024
Whether you are cooking or baking, milk powder is one such ingredient that always adds more to the taste and texture of the item. Made by evaporating regular or full-fat cow milk, this sweet powder is almost every food lover’s ingredient. While initially it was created to preserve milk and extend its shelf life, today it is a kitchen staple worldwide. It is the natural sweetness and the dry and powdery consistency of milk powder that fit so well with so many recipes.
Must-Try Soups And Sauces Created With Milk Powder
Creamy Tomato Soup
Made with milk powder, canned tomatoes, garlic, onions, basil, and butter, this creamy tomato soup is simply yummy. To make this, sauté onions and garlic first. Next, add in the tomatoes and basil and blend. After a few minutes, add the milk powder and simmer the soup well before serving. It is often paired well with grilled cheese sandwiches.
Mushroom Veloute
This elegant French soup is all about its velvety texture. Made with the goodness of mushrooms, powdered milk, chicken broth, flour, butter, and herbs, this soup is an absolute delight with every single sip. If following this recipe, start by cooking the mushrooms and creating a roux. Next, incorporate the milk and broth, and once the soup is ready, season it to taste before serving with bread.
Cheddar Soup
This cheesy soup defines comfort like nothing else. All you need for this soup is some cheddar cheese, powdered milk, onions, and a touch of nutmeg. Start this recipe by sautéing the onions until they're brown. Next, add in the spinach and blend until smooth. Lastly, incorporate the milk powder and cheese and keep cooking until smooth. This soup is often served with whole-grain rolls.
Butternut Squash Bisque
This version of the rich and velvety soup is made by blending roasted butternut squash with powdered milk, chicken broth, onions, ginger root, and cream. For this classic French recipe, begin by roasting the butternut squash until tender. Next, sauté the onions and blend all the ingredients. For the perfect consistency, let the soup simmer before adding milk. For a crunchy texture, garnish it with some spiced croutons.
Classic White Sauce
As the name suggests, a white sauce is a classic accompaniment for many dishes. Be it roasted veggies or some boiled pasta, a white sauce goes well with both. Made with powdered milk, flour, butter, and some seasoning, this simple sauce is an easy solution to spice up many dishes. To try this, start by making a roux using flour and melted butter. While cooking it, slowly add the milk powder and keep stirring until you achieve a thickened consistency.
Cauliflower Cream Sauce
For this recipe, all you need is some cauliflower florets, milk powder, garlic, and olive oil. To make this, simply steam cauliflower, blend it along with milk powder and garlic. Once the sauce is ready, serve it warm with some zucchini noodles.
Garlic Alfredo Sauce
This is another perfect sauce that elevates the taste profile of pasta. Made with milk powder, Parmesan cheese, garlic, butter, and cream, this sauce particularly goes well with Fettuccine pasta. To make this, sauté some garlic and blend in milk powder, parmesan cheese, and butter. Simmer the mixture until it turns creamy.
Cheesy Broccoli Soup
Even if you don’t have a liking for broccoli, this soup will surely bring about some positive changes in your opinion. To make this, start by cooking broccoli and onions. Once they're cooked, blend them. Now is the time to add milk powder and cheddar cheese to create a cheesy soup and let it simmer to perfection before serving it with a baked potato.
Pumpkin Curry Soup
As simple as it sounds, here pumpkin puree takes over the whole taste profile, which is accompanied by the sweetness of milk powder. For this, all you need is some pumpkin puree, curry powder, milk powder, coconut milk, and onions.
To cook this soup at home, begin by sautéing some onions, and then add pumpkin puree and spices to it. Next, blend in some milk powder and cook it all together until the soup is ready. It can be served with Naan bread.
Leek and Potato Soup
For this recipe, simply cook the leeks and potatoes together until tender and blend them together. Next, add the milk powder along with chicken broth and allow the soup to simmer gently. This soup is often served with biscuits.
Maple Mustard Sauce Recipe
This recipe perfectly blends the sweetness of maple syrup with the tanginess of mustard, while milk powder creates the perfectly creamy texture. To make this, blend milk powder, maple syrup, mustard, and vinegar until they form a smooth mixture and serve it with grilled chicken or pork.
Delicious Sweet Corn Soup
Being one of the most popular soups enjoyed by many, sweet corn soup is a go-to option when comfort is needed. To try this recipe, cook the corn with the broth, and blend it until smooth. Next, add milk powder to thicken it and simmer gently, then finally stir in the egg whites.
Tips to Elevate Your Recipes Using Milk Powder
When using milk powder in a recipe, make sure you whisk it thoroughly to dissolve the milk powder without forming any lumps.
If cooking a sauce using milk powder, make sure the flame is low to medium to prevent burning or separation. For some added flavor, one may add some herbs, as it pairs really well with the flavor of milk powder. If adding seasonings, make sure they are adjusted well.
If using vegetables in the soup recipe, make sure they are roasted before adding them to the soup. This adds some depth to the overall flavor profile of the soup. To add more oomph to the taste, consider adding some cheese towards the end of cooking time.
Benefits of Using Milk Powder in Soups and Sauces
Unlike fresh milk, milk powder comes with the benefit of a longer shelf life. It stays usable for months even without refrigeration if kept in an airtight container.
In most recipes, it replaces regular or full-fat milk to create the same rich and smooth texture in soups and sauces without needing cream. And, the thickness of the mixtures can be easily adjusted by adding water. Moreover, it also reduces cooking time, as it dissolves quickly.
In terms of cost and expenses, it is way more convenient than regular dairy products and can be stocked for bulk cooking as well.
From creamy soups and pasta sauces to desserts, milk powder blends well with a wide range of recipes. And the best part is that it retains key nutrients like calcium and protein.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can milk powder be used instead of fresh milk in soups?
Yes. When it comes to soups, milk powder is often used as a perfect substitute for fresh milk, as it efficiently thickens the broth to create a rich and creamy texture. Moreover, it is also known to balance the acidity.
Can milk powder be used in white sauce?
Yes. Milk powder is an excellent ingredient for a perfect white sauce. To use it in the recipe, one may either pre-mix it with water or incorporate it directly with flour and spices. It is known to form a very thick, creamy, and stable base for the white sauce.
How do you dissolve milk powder without lumps?
To make sure there are no lumps while dissolving milk powder, it is ideal to start by making a milk powder paste. To do that, mix the powder with a small amount of lukewarm water first. Once the paste is made, gradually add it to the remaining liquid. Keep whisking it continuously to achieve a smooth consistency.