21 Tasty Topping Ideas to Take Your Soup from Ordinary to Otherworldly (2024)

FAQs

21 Tasty Topping Ideas to Take Your Soup from Ordinary to Otherworldly? ›

You can extract a clean, strong broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand—bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parmesan rind, and, of course, kosher salt.

You can extract a clean, strong broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand—bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parmesan rind, and, of course, kosher salt.

Crunchy. We've already discussed Fritos, but any tortilla chip will do, especially for bean soups or, well, tortilla soup. Crushed up potato chips on top of potato soup would be a potato inception, corn nuts could complement a corn chowder, or good ol' crackers (oyster, buttery Ritz, saltines) are a good standby.

Common soup garnishes: chopped vegetables (such as chopped broccoli on broccoli soup, not random veggies), shredded or grated cheese, croutons or crackers, tortilla strips, chopped herbs, freshly ground black pepper, herb oil and extra virgin olive oil. The most common soup accompaniment is buttered bread.

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

Have you ever tasted your soup right as it's about to be served and it just tastes like it's missing something? Try ladling out a little bit and adding some salt, acid, or sugar. Salt can be plain kosher salt, or even parmesan rind if you have it on hand.

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

Go green: Add some spinach or chopped kale or pesto. Get zesty: A squirt of lemon juice or zest could brighten up an otherwise flat soup. Starchy things: Homemade croutons, crushed tortilla chips, or oyster crackers. Clean out the fridge: got cooked beans or rice, a dollop of sour cream, or a splash of heavy cream?

What are good soup toppings? ›

Minced vegetables like onions, tomatoes, jalapeños, chopped cucumbers, red and green peppers add a colorful finish to the top of your soup. Roasted peppers, corn, and sun-dried tomatoes are also good soup toppings.

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl. Our Lemony Chicken Soup will make your mouth water.

Garnishes add color, texture, and contrast to a soup. A garnish may be a simple sprinkle of fresh herbs or an elaborate truffle custard for a consommé, but an inspired garnish will make a soup stand out better and create an exceptional tasting experience.