When you’re craving comfort food, a great bowl of soup always fits the bill. And the best soups have a little something special that takes a basic soup from straightforward to spectacular. This week we’re sharing nine of our favorite tricks for making any soup into something really special.
1) Croutons
So simple, every soup should have them. Well, maybe not every soup, but darn close. Just toss bread with olive oil, salt and pepper, and bake. It adds a crispy contrast we can’t resist, plus you get the double benefit of using up some of those pieces of bread tucked into the back of your freezer. (Wontons and crushed tortilla chips add great crunch, as well.)
2) Bean Purees
Pureed beans give a body and creaminess to soup we love, plus adding some extra protein. Try adding some white beans to a tomato soup puree or cannellini beans to a creamy cauliflower soup. You’ll be hooked.
3) Bail Pesto
A drizzle of basil pesto makes a mild soup sing. Even better when that drizzle is on top of a crispy crouton.
4) Mango Chutney
Think of it as Indian pesto. Chutney adds a flair to wake up any creamy soup. Particularly perfect with potato, cauliflower and celery root soup.
5) Kalamata Olives
Our secret weapon when we want to add depth to a soup. We chop them into little pieces and add to any soup with lots of kale, tomatoes or cauliflower. Soy sauce and balsamic vinegar are great choices if olives aren’t your thing.
6) Nuts
Serve toasted as a topper to add a crunchy contrast, or add a spoonful of nut butter to make a soup heartier. Either way, they’ll take your soup to a whole new level.
7) Crispy Capers
We could eat crispy capers on just about anything, so it’s no surprise we love them with soup. Fry in a little oil until they turn golden brown, then sprinkle on your soup with abandon.
8) Cheesy Finish
Whether it’s a bit of feta, a shaving of Parmesan or a crumble of blue cheese, a little cheese adds a sophisticated finish to nearly every soup.
9) Add Some Greens
Give a soup extra dimension by stirring some greens in at the very end. Kale, spinach and arugula are all at home with almost every flavor.
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