Topping Your Soup with Grains
Give granola a chance. Granola is a great, and often gluten-free, grain-based topping for soups. While you might not think this breakfast superstar is a good fit for your steaming mug of soup, granola adds crunch, flavor, and even a bit of protein to your otherwise run of the mill meal. Try adding a sprinkle to a wintry soup that has at least a hint of nutty flavor, like pumpkin or squash. Top spiced cauliflower soup with a nutty granola. Add some crunch to a creamy carrot soup with a handful of delicately spiced granola.
Top your soup with toasts. Adding toasted bread will give your soup a crispy crunch! The toast will also soak up the soup, adding body to pureed soups that might otherwise be lacking it. You can add a piece of your favorite toasted bread, or try prepared toasts that you can purchase at your local market or grocery store. Try toasted whole grain toast on a bowl of French onion soup. Add chunks of toasted sourdough to a cup of creamy tomato soup.
Try tortilla chips. Crispy, salty tortilla chips add crunch, flavor, and unforgettable texture to all types of soup. You can crumble everyday tortilla chips onto a frothy bowl of soup, or top a cup of your favorite soup with crispy tortilla strips. For those who don’t want the added sodium, try topping your soup with unsalted tortilla chips or strips. Make your Mexican chicken soup crunchy with a handful of tortilla strips. Up the ante on your tomato soup with a sprinkling of crumbled tortilla chips.
Topping Your Soup with Dairy Products
Try a dollop of yogurt. Yogurt is a great way to turn your bowl of soup into a creamy masterpiece. You can choose any type of yogurt to add to your soup, ranging from Australian style to thick, creamy Greek yogurt. Full-fat, low-fat, and even fat-free can all be great options, depending on your dietary needs. Add a dollop of Greek yogurt to your cup of lentil stew. Make your canned chicken soup a creamy delight with a dollop of yogurt in each bowl.
Consider a sprinkling of cheese. Shredded cheese is a great topping for all kinds of soups, and chances are you already have some on hand. Topping your soup with shredded cheese imparts flavor and intensity to what might otherwise be a boring bowl of broth. Mix it up and try different types of shredded cheese of various kinds of soups. The possibilities are endless! Sprinkle shredded cheddar on a bowl of chunky potato soup. Give your clam chowder a kick by topping it with a handful of shredded pepper jack cheese.
Top your soup with sour cream. Sour cream is another dairy-based topping that can add pizazz to your soup. Use it to turn wintry soups creamy, while adding a bit of culinary flair to your bowl. You can also add it to chunky stews and chili. Add a dollop of sour cream to a chunky vegetable stew. Top your creamy pumpkin soup with a tablespoon of sour cream.
Topping Your Soup with Herbs
Consider crispy sage leaves. Sage can add flair to more traditional soups like butternut squash, pumpkin, or zucchini. Add fresh sage leaves to a few tablespoons of olive oil and toast over medium-high heat for about a minute, or until crispy. Add the toasted herbs to your soup and enjoy! Top traditional butternut squash soup with sage leaves crisped in olive oil. Up the ante on your bowl of creamy zucchini soup by topping it with crispy sage leaves.
Put some pesto on your cup of soup. Pesto is a great way to add the flavor and aroma of herbs and spices to an ordinary bowl of soup. A heaping spoonful of basil pesto can take a humdrum helping of soup and turn it into something special. You can make your own or use store-bought pesto. Take a bowl of butternut soup to the next level with a heaping spoonful of basil pesto. Turn an ordinary bowl of chicken noodle soup into a daring dish with a dollop of basil or dill pesto.
Use minced herbs as a soup topping. The addition of fresh, minced herbs to a steaming bowl of homemade or store-bought soup can add flavor, depth, and creativity to what might otherwise be a simple cup of soup. Buy fresh herbs at your local market or grocery store, mince with a sharp knife or chopper, and sprinkle over the top of your soup. Try topping roasted red pepper soup with minced basil, parsley, sage, and thyme. Top tomato soup with a sprinkle of freshly minced basil.
Topping Your Soup with Vegetables
Try adding crispy shallots to your soup. Shallots and onions are members of the same family. Shallots can add a sweet and mild flavor to your soup. Try slicing shallots thinly, and crisping them in olive oil on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Use the sweet, crispy shallots to top your favorite bowl of soup. Try topping a cup of creamy broccoli soup with crispy shallots. Add flavor and crunch to pumpkin soup with a handful of crispy shallots.
Top your soup with pickled vegetables. Sauerkraut, kimchi, or other pickled vegetables can add spice, tartness, and overall flavor to a soup. You can pickle the vegetables yourself, or purchase them at the store. Try matching the pickled vegetable to other ingredients in the soup for a pairing that will move your soup experience well beyond the can. Top your bowl of gumbo with a few pieces of pickled okra. Turn a cup of cream of mushroom soup into an exciting meal by topping it with pickled mushrooms.
Consider chopped vegetables. Chopped, shredded, or minced fresh vegetables can add flavor and texture to your bowl of soup. They also impart additional nutrients. Try to stick to firm vegetables that will keep their texture when added to your bowl of steaming soup. Try topping your chicken noodle soup with fresh shredded or matchstick carrots. Top a bowl of cabbage soup with shredded beets.
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