Soup Garnishes
Take a minute to garnish, and a bowl of soup will never be “just a bowl of soup” again. Just use one or more of these garnish groups, mixing and matching as appropriate for the recipe. Garnishes can be added to the soup when presented in bowls, or served more family-style which allows the diner to add the garnish to their taste.
- Bread: Artisan bread, crackers, croutons, flatbread, pita, toasts, biscuits, fried tortillias
- Dairy: Crème fraîche, sprinkling of grated/shaved cheese, heavy cream, sour cream, yogurt, quark. A dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt tones down the fire in spicy soups.
- Parmesan Crisps: Place tablespoon-size mounds of shredded or grated Parmesan cheese 2 inches apart on a lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 6 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool to firm up before removing.
- Herbs & Spices: Fresh herbs taste best, but dried herbs as a backup: chives, parsley, basil, sage, thyme, mint, dill. Fried sage and basil have become popular lately as a garnish.
- Fruit: Matchstick apple slices tossed with lemon juice, dried berries and cherries, fresh berries, grapes, lemon and lime slices, melon balls, pear slices, diced pineapple; orange, lemon or lime zest
- Vegetables: Cooked, fried or raw to match the soup, e.g. a broccoli floret or carrot slice atop broccoli or carrot soup. Because many soups are made with oniony base (onion, leaks, shallots, etc.), scallions often work as a garnish.
Slivered garlic fried in oil until lightly brown and crisp. Sliced and fried shallots - Nuts: Toasted or fried in butter. Pumpkin seeds and breadcrumbs toasted in butter goes well with pumpkin or squash soup.
- Hard-boiled Eggs: goes well with bean soups
Clear Broth Soups
Bread Accompaniment: Bread and butter for those with a clear broth. Garlic Bread.
Chicken Noodle Soup - garnish with chopped chives, sliced scallions or parsley leaves
Tomato Soups
Tomato Soup - Top with fresh basil leaves and curls of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Creamed Soups or Soups with Dairy
Croutons are great additions, adding crunch. Decorate with a bit of the main ingredient, such as lightly cooked broccoli flowers or asparagus tips, slices of fresh mushrooms, roasted corn, fried spinach. These should accent the flavor of the soup overall. Fresh or fried versions of the herbs that are used in the recipe, such as fresh parsley or chives, fried sage or basil. Crisp bacon is a popular addition, as is a dairy product consistent with the soup ingredients.
Bread Accompaniment: Crackers go well with most creamed soups. The soups are too thick to serve with bread for dipping, as in a soup with a lot of broth, but crackers crumbled in add a bit of crunch. I like buttery crackers, but Saltines are also good. Serve on the side so they don't get soggy.
Creamy Asparagus Soup - peas added to soup puree to give brighter green, asparagus tips reserved and added at end, or add as garnish to bowls
Cream of Parsnip Soup w/ Potato Crisps and Bacon - garnish bowls w/ crispy potatoes, bacon and fresh chives, or pass on the side
Creamy Parsnip Soup - top bowls with bacon and dollop of sour cream, or pass on side
Cauliflower Soup w/ Bacon & Croutons - garnish bowls w/ bacon and croutons, or pass on side
Squash Soup - garnish with very thin slices of red apple, raw or grilled, or top with a spoonful of plain yogurt, crème fraîche or unsweetened whipped cream. Toasted seeds and nuts make good toppings for butternut squash soup, as does fried sage leaves.
Cream of Carrot Soup - top with toasted, slivered almonds, chopped hazelnuts, fresh-snipped chives or candied ginger
Pumpkin Soup - Roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, fried sage leaves, roasted pepitas, toasted walnuts or pecans, and parsley are some ideas.
Cream of Mushroom Soup - serve with herbed Croutons, or a spinkle of paprika for color and fresh parsley leaves. Thin sliced mushrooms would also be a nice garnish.
Potato Soup - Sour cream, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, minced chives, fried shallots, roasted broccoli, diced tomatoes, and scallions make a tasty addition to potato soup.
Bean, Pea, Grain Soups:
Bread Accompaniment: Corn Bread, served on the side, goes well with most bean soups, especially those made with ham or bacon. Rye bread with butter.
Black Bean Soup - garnish bowls with hard-boiled eggs and chopped fresh onion (can soak in lime juice as for Black Beans & Rice), or pass on side
Lentil Soup - garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh parsley
Split Pea Soup - Crumbled bacon, croutons, sour cream, hot sauce, and cooked sausage would work well with this soup.
Seafood Soups & Chowders:
Bread Accompaniment: Oyster crackers are traditional, especially with chowders; saltines are a good substitute.
Bay Scallop Chowder w/ Parsley Oil - drizzle bowls with parsley oil
Maine Lobster Stew - decorate bowls with claw or leg meat
New England Clam Chowder - top with a light drizzle of butter and fresh parsley leaves
Corn Chowder - garnish with chopped chives or sliced scallions
Stews:
Bread Accompaniment: Serve with biscuits or bread, and butter
Italian Soups:
Many Italian soups call for passing a Parmesan-type cheese that diners can add if desired, which adds a lot of flavor to the soup. Pesto is another option added to soups, especially Minestrone style soups. Fresh or fried basil leaves.
Bread Accompaniment: Italian bread with butter. Garlic Bread. Bread Sticks.
Classic Minestrone Soup - serve with Parmesan cheese on the side for sprinkling on top and a good crusty bread for dipping, or a nice dollap of Pesto
Italian Wedding Soup - serve with a good helping of grated cheese on top, or serve on side
Tuscan White Bean Soup - served with a fried basil and garlic topping, Parmesan cheese and bruschetta
Mexican/Tex-Mex Soups:
Popular garnishes are grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, corn or tortilla chips, avocado, sliced radishes, fresh cilantro and crema or sour cream.
Chili - garnish with grated Cheddar cheese and tortilla chips. or pass on side
Tortilla Soup w/ Fire-Roasted Corn & Chipotle Crema - garnish with diced avocado, charred corn, and Chipotle Crema, or pass on side
Asian Soups
Bean sprouts, green onion
