Frederic Melton
Broccoli cheese soup is a hearty and delicious meal, but what should you serve with it? Well, one option is to go with a classic soup and sandwich combo. A cheese sandwich or a vegan sandwich with tempeh bacon and avocado are both tasty options. If you're looking for something a little lighter, a salad could be a good choice. A crunchy salad with a tangy dressing, such as an arugula salad with a red wine vinaigrette, can help balance out the richness of the soup. For a heartier option, you could add diced potatoes to the soup or serve it with oven-baked chicken legs. And, of course, you can't go wrong with some bread! Garlic bread, focaccia, or a bread bowl are all great choices to soak up that cheesy goodness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread | Baguette, garlic bread, bread bowl, sourdough, Turkish bread, soft rolls, gluten-free bread, cornbread, focaccia, cheesy garlic breadsticks |
| Salad | Arugula salad, kale salad, winter fruit salad, crunchy salad, side salad, green salad |
| Sandwiches | Cheese sandwiches, vegan sandwiches, rich cheesy sandwiches with meat |
| Other | Rice, pasta, croutons, crackers, tortilla chips, fries, pizza rolls, buttery biscuits, gnocchi, tempeh, tortellini, mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, quinoa, chickpeas, spinach |
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What You'll Learn
Salads, such as arugula or kale salad
Salads are a great way to balance out the richness of broccoli cheese soup. Here are some ideas for salads that would pair well with this dish:
Arugula Salad
Arugula is a flexible green that can stand up to fully-flavoured dressings without being overpowering. It is also packed with vital nutrients and is low in calories, carbs, fat, and sugar. For a simple arugula salad, combine arugula with a lemon balsamic dressing, Parmesan cheese, and tamari almonds for crunch. You can also add roasted grapes for a touch of sweetness.
If you want to get creative, try experimenting with different nuts, cheeses, and fruits. For example, you could swap the almonds with toasted pecans, walnuts, or pine nuts, or replace the Parmesan with goat cheese, shaved pecorino, Manchego, or feta. Instead of grapes, you could add sliced pears, diced apples, strawberries, blueberries, or dried cranberries.
Kale Salad
Kale salads are hearty and can be paired with almost any meal. To make a simple kale salad, start by massaging the kale with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt to help soften the leaves. Then, add in your desired mix of roasted chickpeas, grated carrots and beets, watermelon radish, avocado, dried cranberries, toasted pepitas, and sesame seeds. For an extra punch of flavour, top it off with a carrot ginger dressing.
Like arugula salads, kale salads can also be customised with a variety of ingredients. Instead of dried cranberries, you could use dried currants or golden raisins. Toss in some fresh fruit like berries, apple slices, pear slices, or orange segments. Play around with different cheeses such as feta, goat cheese, white cheddar, or blue cheese. For an extra crunch, add pecans, candied pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or swap out the chickpeas for crispy roasted ones.
Both arugula and kale salads offer a nutritious and delicious option to serve alongside broccoli cheese soup. They provide a fresh and healthy contrast to the creamy, savoury soup, making for a well-rounded and satisfying meal.
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Bread, including garlic bread and focaccia
Bread is a classic side to serve with soup, and broccoli cheese soup is no exception. For a simple option, serve the soup with a crusty baguette, or get creative with garlic bread or focaccia.
Garlic bread is a popular choice to accompany broccoli cheese soup. You can buy it pre-made or make your own by brushing slices of bread with a mixture of garlic, oregano, olive oil, chilli flakes, salt, and pepper. If you have an air fryer, you can make pull-apart garlic bread, which cooks in just five minutes. Alternatively, try making cheesy garlic breadsticks by brushing soft breadsticks with garlic-parmesan butter and topping them with mozzarella cheese.
If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own focaccia in under 30 minutes using pizza dough. Simply add olive oil, rosemary, sea salt, and parmesan cheese. For a more substantial meal, you can also serve the soup in a bread bowl. You can use any type of bread, but sourdough is a popular choice.
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Sandwiches, like cheese or vegan sandwiches
Sandwiches are a great option to serve alongside broccoli cheese soup. Since the soup is already quite rich, a minimalist sandwich is a good choice. You could make a simple cheese sandwich, with cheddar being a good option to complement the cheese in the soup. For a more complex flavour profile, you could add avocado to the sandwich.
If you're after a heartier sandwich, you could add some meat, such as ham, chicken or turkey. Alternatively, you could make a vegan sandwich with tempeh bacon, marinated in teriyaki sauce and Old Bay seasoning.
For the bread, you could use Turkish bread, which is easy to make from scratch. If you're after a more indulgent option, you could brush the bread with a mixture of garlic, oregano, olive oil, chilli flakes, salt and pepper.
For a gluten-free option, you could make pizza rolls to dip into the soup.
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Fries, pizza rolls, or tortilla chips
Fries
Fries are a great side dish to serve with broccoli cheese soup. While they are commonly paired with burgers and sandwiches, their crispy exterior and tender interior make them perfect for dipping into a thick, cheesy soup. You can even make sweet potato fries if you want a healthier option.
Pizza Rolls
Pizza rolls, or broccoli stromboli, are another delicious option to serve with broccoli cheese soup. They are made by rolling pizza dough around a stuffing of garlicky broccoli, mozzarella cheese, and Pecorino Romano. The rolls are then topped with sesame seeds and baked until golden. They can be served with a side of marinara sauce for dipping, which would complement the soup well.
Tortilla Chips
Tortilla chips are a unique and tasty addition to broccoli cheese soup. While they are commonly used in chicken tortilla soup, they can also be crushed and added to the soup as a thickening agent, providing a crunchy texture and a comforting feel. They can also be served on the side as a crispy topping to sprinkle over the soup.
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Rice, pasta, or gnocchi
Rice is a popular choice for any cream-based soup, and it works particularly well with broccoli cheese soup. It adds a satisfying texture and makes the dish more substantial.
Pasta is another excellent option. Fusilli pasta is recommended as it holds the soup well and adds an interesting texture. It is also a quick and convenient choice, as it is likely to be a pantry staple.
Gnocchi, which can be considered either a type of pasta or a potato dumpling, is also a tasty addition to the soup. Simply fry prepackaged gnocchi in some herbs and oil, and add it to your bowl of soup for a heartier meal.
For a gluten-free option, there are also several types of rice and corn pasta available that would work well with the soup.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some side dishes that go well with broccoli cheese soup:
- Salads, such as arugula salad, kale salad, or a winter fruit salad.
- Bread, such as garlic bread, focaccia, baguette, or sourdough.
- Sandwiches, such as a cheese sandwich or a vegan sandwich with tempeh.
- Fries, pizza rolls, or gluten-free options.
Some good vegan side dishes to serve with broccoli cheese soup include:
- Salads, such as a kale salad with avocado, pistachios, and chickpeas, or a fennel celery salad with a lemon-parmesan vinaigrette.
- Gluten-free pizza rolls or fries.
- Vegan sandwiches with tempeh.
- Gluten-free garlic bread.
Some good vegetarian side dishes to serve with broccoli cheese soup include:
- Salads, such as an arugula salad.
- Bread, such as garlic bread, focaccia, baguette, or sourdough.
- Sandwiches, such as a cheese sandwich.
- Fries, pizza rolls, or gluten-free options.
Some good side dishes with protein to serve with broccoli cheese soup include:
- Oven-baked chicken legs.
- A sandwich with meat, such as ham or chicken.
- Sauteed zucchini and squash.
- Air fryer brussel sprouts with balsamic vinegar.
