Sauce, sofrito, prepared from recipe vs Soup, beef barley, ready to serve

Sofrito sauce scores higher for nutrient density, 41 of 100, versus beef barley soup at 35 of 100. Per 100 g, sofrito has more than four times the calories (237 vs 52) and protein (12.8 g vs 2.81 g), along with far more fat (18.2 g vs 0.96 g), fiber (1.7 g vs 0.9 g), and sodium (1140 mg vs 297 mg). The soup has slightly more carbs (7.94 g vs 5.46 g).

Choose beef barley soup when you want a lower-calorie, lower-sodium option that's ready to eat as a full serving. Choose sofrito when you're using it as a concentrated flavoring rather than a meal on its own, keeping portions small given its 1140 mg of sodium per 100 g. Both scores sit on the lower end of this category, so neither is a standout nutrient-dense choice; the real difference is concentration versus dilution.