9 Easy Toppers to Instantly Upgrade Your Soup

Rich & Creamy

Swirlable Dairy

Stir in a spoonful of yogurt, crème fraîche, or sour cream. If needed, thin with a little water to make it easier to swirl.

Any Cheese

Choose a cheese that complements your soup. Think Parm with minestrone, or cheddar with cream of broccoli.

A Little Oil

Looking for an alternative to dairy? A drizzle of EVOO adds a hit of richness and is particularly pretty on pureed soups.

Crispy & Crunchy

Bready Things

A handful of croutons, pretty much any cracker, or even some diced toast will add a carby crunch.

Toasted Nuts

Try pepitas on top of butternut squash soup, or slivered toasted almonds on your tomato soup.

Choose A Chip

Crush a handful of tortilla chips over chowder, or double down with potato chips on potato soup.

Fresh & Bright

Green Stuff

Try cilantro, parsley, or chives—or snag one of those little packs of super-flavorful microgreens and sprinkle them on.

Radishes

Thinly sliced rounds or slim matchsticks add color and bite. Pile on top of chicken noodle or tortilla soup, or add to a bowl of posole.

Citrus Zest

An easy way to add some zing: Try lemon zest in your beef stew, or lime zest in any soup made with coconut milk.

This article originally appeared in our Harvest 2020 issue. Get the magazine here.