Are Stew and Soup the Same Thing?

They’re both hot and served in liquid. So, what are the differences between stew and soup? Are there any?

The Short Answer

No, soup and stew are not the same thing.

The Long Answer

Soup and stew. They are both liquid-based. They’re both eaten from a bowl. They both start with the letter S. But despite those similarities, they are not the same thing. They may have many of the same ingredients, but the difference between the two can be summed up by a matter of volume.

Soup is a liquid-based food containing solid ingredients that are boiled together. The boiling extracts flavor from the meat and vegetable ingredients into the broth. Stew is a solid-based meal that is backed up by liquid. It is simmered in a covered pot until the liquid becomes a gravy that seeps into the meat and veggies. So, the difference is all a matter of liquid. Soup has more, stew has less. You can eat both with a spoon, but you can also eat stew with a fork.

Try our Lamb Stew recipe for a delicious stew dinner.