A few years ago, my friend and neighbor Debbie stopped by with a gift for me, and it turned out to be one of the most useful food gifts I’ve ever received! It was a powdery mix of something called “SOS Mix” and while I wasn’t sure what it was at first, I knew it had to be good. (After all, Debbie worked for the Utah State University Extension Service for over three decades, specializing in food, nutrition, and health!)
Once she explained the concept of SOS Mix to me and how to use it, I could tell it was destined to become a staple in my kitchen. Now I always keep it stocked in my pantry, and I still consider it one of the most useful things I learned how to make!
Related: 10 Surprising Ingredients You Can Make to Save a Trip to the Store
And today I will bring the magic of SOS Mix to you all! Once you learn how useful it is to have on hand, I’m sure you’ll feel as indebted to Debbie as I do! 😉
So let’s start with the obvious question – what exactly is SOS mix?
What is SOS Mix?
“SOS” is an acronym that stands for “soup or sauce,” a fittingly broad title for an extremely versatile concoction! It’s a dry mixture that can be used as a base when making soups and sauces, or it works great as a cream soup substitute in almost any recipe.
So if you have any recipes that call for a can of cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup, you can “prepare” some SOS mix by adding water and use that instead. One batch of SOS Mix can be used to make up to Nine A can of cream soup substitute, and with the added benefit of being lighter and taking up less space.
If you need more convincing, I’ve outlined some of my favorite things about SOS Mix below!
5 things I love about SOS Mix
1. It’s gluten-free
One frustrating aspect of cooking for my son with celiac is that many store-bought foods (including ready-made soups) contain some form of gluten! It’s great to have a cream soup base that’s naturally gluten-free and easy to make at home.
2. It has simple ingredients
SOS Mix has just four simple ingredients (five if you count the optional one) and no mystery fillers or preservatives. In fact, it’s entirely possible that you already have all the ingredients you need to make it in your kitchen as we speak!
3. It is easy to make
It only takes three minutes to measure the ingredients, and then you just have to whisk them together! It literally couldn’t be any easier.
4. It’s cheap
As I mentioned earlier, each batch of SOS Mix contains the equivalent of nine cans of cream soup. Considering that a can of store-bought cream soup costs about $1 on the low end, I did some math to see how the price of a batch of SOS mix compares.
If you can get a good price on ingredients through Buy them in bulkYou can make a batch of SOS Mix for about $6 in materials. That works out to about $0.70 per “can” of SOS Mix, so you can definitely save money by making it yourself (especially if it also saves you a few trips to the store!).
5. It is versatile
There are many ways to use this versatile dry mix. In fact, Debbie and a fellow USU Extension agent have put together a free recipe booklet with over 30 recipes you can make using SOS Mix!
How about macaroni and cheese, easy beef teriyaki stir-fry, and chicken pot pie? Those are just a few of the mouth-watering offerings you’ll find Their free SOS Mix recipe booklet.
How to Make SOS Mix (aka Soup or Sauce Mix)
Directions:
- Add powdered milk, cornmeal, bouillon, onion slices and Italian seasoning (if using) to a mixing bowl.
- Stir until the ingredients are well combined.
- Store the prepared mixture in an airtight container.
How to use SOS mix as a substitute for a can of cream soup
Directions:
- Add 1/3 cup SOS mix and 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) water to a saucepan and stir to combine.
- Place the pan on your stovetop and heat until thickened.
- Add the thick cream soup mixture to your recipe.
So there you have it! Now that you know everything you need to know about this magical little concoction, I hope you give it a try and let me know what you think!
Do you have a favorite recipe that calls for a can of cream soup?
SOS Mix
SOS Mix, which stands for “soup or sauce,” is a cream soup base that you can use to replace a can of cream soup in all of your favorite recipes. It also makes a great base for sauces!
- 2 Cup Dry milk Non-fat
- 3/4 Cup Corn flour
- 1/4 Cup Instant Chicken Bouillon
- 2 Spoon Dry onion slices
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning Optional
To use (in place of cream of any soup)
-
Add 1/3 cup SOS mix and 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) water to a saucepan and stir to combine.
-
Place the pan on your stovetop and heat until thickened. Add the thick cream soup mixture to your recipe.
Calories: 166kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 11gFat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 1722mgPotassium: 553mgSugar: 16gVitamin A: 625IUVitamin C: 2.8mgCalcium: 379mgIron: 0.4mg
