Just because your tomato soup is coming from a can, doesn’t mean it can’t have a bit of zing! Check out these 5 ways to dress that soup up for a total tomato soup makeover!
Time for another Fashion Friday, and today we’re introducing our first Food Makeover. Sounds fun, eh?
Today I wanted to throw out a few quick tips to help in the canned soup aisle – namely,with the soup of the tomato variety.
I am all for the straight up Campbell’s Tomato Soup, no frills involved, especially on a cold day. Of course, I need my handy grilled cheese to accompany. However, after visiting Zupa’s more times than I can count, I received a little inspiration when I came across their Tomato Basil Soup. I thought, hey, even when I’m in a rush, I can pull these little tricks off to make my already good canned soup tastetotally gourmet!
Let’s get started!
1)Cream or Milk
Campbell’s even clues you in on this one – on the side of the can, it says that you can substitute the can of water for milk. Voila! Creamy goodness. However, you will notice that the soup may separate a little bit. A higher fat content in your dairy will help mitigate this. What I’ve realized that I prefer is to go water, and then just add a couple tablespoons of heavy cream to give it a nice creamaliciousfinish (don’t do full cream, or even half at that – yeesh! A little too rich – and don’t ask me how I know – haha.)
2) Basil (or other zesty spices)
The heavenly match of tomato and basil! It’s so fantastic. If you are using dried, put it in while the soup is warming to help release the flavors. I love using the Lighthouse freeze-dried stuff. If you are using fresh, adding right at the end helps release the best flavor. You can just do a rough tear of the leaves or a chiffonade. I also added me a little bit of Lighthouse Oregano this time as well.
3)Orzo Pasta
Zupa’s was genius with this one. Basically they have “add-ins” that you can throw in, and these mini little diamond pastas, well they are fabulous. I just cook them up per their package instructions in a tiny little pan at the same time the soup is warming up. Then after I drain them, I toss in a little olive oil and throw in a bowl so each person can serve up what they want.
4) Sharp Cheddar
I’m assuming this one is also a no-brainer since we all know grilled cheese and tomato soup rock one’s world! But how about just grating some delicious cheddar right into the soup? Make it sharp though! In fact, maybe I’m just a cheese snob but I don’t even buy cheddar unless it’s sharp. No, I take that back. I also buy extra sharp. Tillamook is my ultimate fav!If you are really feeling the urge, go ahead and buy the smoked cheddar to give it even more kick.
5) More Tomato!
Say what? Yes, give that soup a little freshness by throwing in more tomato. Make sure it’s pulverized though! I just core, quickly peel off as much of the skin as I can with a paring knife (a little left won’t hurt anything), and then throw the whole tomato into my Blendtec twister jar which does a top-notch job. And I would definitely recommend a Roma variety (which is meatier and less acidic).This just gives the soup a fresher feel without all of the work of a whole tomato soup from scratch.
Well, there you go folks. Try one, try all. They are fabulous. And of course, don’t forget to drizzle a little olive oil on top for good measure, as well as a couple grinds of salt and pepper.
I hope you enjoyed this little “food makeover”. Tell us what other foods need a facelift! And share your food makeovers with us on Instagram by tagging @foodapparel #foodapparel #foodmakeover.
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Christina | Food Apparel
I'm Christina and I'm a self-proclaimed foodie and chocoholic! I am a real estate broker by trade. I have a wonderful husband, 3 girls 4 and under (crazy!!!) and a hyper dog. Want to know my quirks? Go here for a little Q&A.
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FAQs
10 Simple Ingredients to Add to Tomato Soup
- 1) Fresh Rosemary. Kicking off the list is the simplest way to jazz up your tomato soup – fresh herbs. ...
- 2) Sauteed Onions. ...
- 3) Crispy Bacon. ...
- 4) Cream. ...
- 5) Chutney. ...
- 6) Melted Cheese. ...
- 7) Tinned Anchovies. ...
- 8) Toasted Pine Nuts.
10 Simple Ways to Upgrade Prepared Tomato Soup
- Add Fresh Herbs. Take a page from My New Roots author Sarah Britton and turn to herbs whenever you need a simple way to perk up a pot of soup. ...
- Add Greens. ...
- Add Toasted Nuts. ...
- Add Croutons. ...
- Add Poached Eggs. ...
- Or Something Fishy. ...
- Drizzle With Flavored Oil. ...
- Or Flavored Cream.
Add swirls of pesto, chili crisp, hot sauce, sour cream, or salted yogurt. Garnish your bowl with fried shallots, garlic chips, croutons, or a mish-mash of toasted seeds. Douse tender, fresh herbs—like cilantro, dill, parsley, or basil—in good-quality olive oil and vinegar and pile them on top.
How to jazz up canned soup? ›
How To Make Canned Soup Taste Like Homemade
- Sauté some onions and/or garlic: Low and slow is the way to go. ...
- Add protein: Leftover chicken or steak, some cooked diced ham or bacon or sausage (just a little — that soup is already salty). ...
- More vegetables: This is a great place for leftover cooked veggies.
Olive oil and butter – They create the soup's rich base. To make this recipe dairy-free, feel free to use additional olive oil instead of the butter. Carrots, onion, and garlic – These aromatic veggies give the soup savory depth of flavor. Balsamic vinegar – It adds sweetness and tang.
What enhances tomato Flavour? ›
Seasoning Tomatoes With Cream of Tartar
Yes, there are other ways to make your tomatoes taste even better and increase the acidity. There is lemon, vinegar, or my personal favorite, balsamic. Just imagine a tomato bruschetta with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzled on top. Yummy!
How to jazz up store-bought tomato soup? ›
Use Herbs and Seasonings
Add chopped fresh basil or parsley at the end of cooking to bring out that rich tomato flavor. Turn to your pantry for seasonings like fresh cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning or oregano, stirring them in while the soup is still cooking.
What can I add to tomato sauce to make it taste better? ›
Add fresh herbs (basil, oregano, rosemary, bay leaf), and let them simmer to give a punch of fresh flavor.
How do you perk up soup? ›
Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples
Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.
How to make tomato soup thicker? ›
Add flour or cornflour
Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.
Roast the onions and garlic before adding the tomato base can enhance the flavor, and adding a splash of balsamic vinegar or a drizzle of olive oil can also provide depth. You can experiment with adding a splash of lemon juice or a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
How do you enhance Campbell's soup? ›
Just a few drops of your favourite condiment will give your soup a new richness and bring the best out of the other ingredients. The saltiness of soy sauce goes especially well with meaty soups such as Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, while just a few drops of Tabasco provides a real kick and a fiery heat.
What can I add to my soup to make it tastier? ›
"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.
What takes the bitterness out of tomato soup? ›
Add Some Baking Soda
If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.
How do you balance tomato flavor in soup? ›
Balance with herbs and spices
Herbs and spices can do wonders to balance the acidity in tomato soup. Consider adding a sprinkle of dried basil, oregano, or thyme to enhance the flavors and mask any overpowering acidity. Fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro can also add a burst of freshness to your soup.
