12 Ways to Top Your Tomato Soup

By , SparkPeople Blogger
There's something so comforting about tomato soup, especially when paired with a grilled cheese sandwich. Today we're sharing with you a simple recipe for a homemade version of this comforting classic, plus ideas for how to top your soup--and easy ways to transform it into other meals.
 
Mmm, mmm, better! That's what you will be saying when you try my easy Creamy Tomato Soup.  It tastes so much better than the stand-by canned variety, which rely on salt for most of their taste.
 
The condensed tomato soup we grew up eating has 480 mg sodium (about 20% of the max you should consume in a day). The homemade version has less than 100 mg per serving.
 
Tomato soup is delightful on its own, but it also pairs well with all sorts of toppings. Try one of these flavorful toppings:
 
  1. baked whole wheat croutons with chopped parsley
  2. celery leaves
  3. chopped chives and Greek yogurt
  4. diced Canadian ham cooked in a dry skillet
  5. cumin seed and roasted corn
  6. cooked whole wheat Israeli (pearl) couscous
  7. crumbled feta cheese mixed with fresh thyme and basil
  8. steamed brown rice
  9. peeled and diced cucumber
  10. chopped boiled egg whites
  11. grilled shrimp
  12. chopped black and green olives
 
No way still have some soup left?  Try one of these tasty twists with the leftovers:
 
  1. Use as a sauce for roast chicken, then top with chopped thyme and parsley.
  2. Pour over meatloaf in the last 15 minutes of cooking to add flavor, color, and moisture.
  3. Add to broth-based vegetable soups to boost flavor and add color.
  4. Turn it into a tomato minestrone soup. Thin the soup with more stock, then add cooked whole wheat pasta, white or red beans, diced carrots and celery. Top with shredded basil or parsley.
  5. Add 1/2 cup dry lentils to 2 cups tomato soup.  Simmer until the lentils are tender, adding more stock if necessary.
  6. Use as a base for quick gumbo: Add chopped cooked chicken, diced green onions, steamed brown rice, chopped cooked shrimp, and sliced sautéed okra.
  7. Add chopped thyme, dried basil, dried oregano and grated parmesan cheese to make a quick pasta sauce for ravioli.  Stir in spinach and cook until wilted.
  8. Start your day with a virgin Bloody Mary--perfect served warm in a mug in winter or over ice in a tall glass in the summer.  Thin the soup with additional tomato juice (no salt added).   Top with a shake of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and a stalk of celery and sip away.
 
What is your favorite way to eat tomato soup?
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Like this blog? Then you'll love "The SparkPeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight"!