The humble bowl of soup reigns supreme in winter, so make it fabulous and you’re onto a winner!
Whether you’re starting from scratch or upcycling a ready-made version, a few simple ideas can transform your soup from mundane to marvellous, quickly and easily. A swirl of cream or flavoured oil, a drape of fresh herbs, a gorgeous garnish can all raise the game, as can plenty of texture, using fresh, seasonal produce.
All about the base
Having a base soup mix allows you to ensure consistency on your menu, both with flavour and availability. It’s also economical, allowing you to buy ingredients in quantity, and avoiding any last-minute expensive shopping trips to find ingredients that may be affected by weather and supply issues.
A simple soup mix has a strong flavour base, From here, choose fresh seasonal produce that will help enhance the colour, texture and look. Then it’s up to you to add fun garnishes and a creative twist and call it your own.
Charming creations
Add diced potatoes and an exotic mushroom mix to a Maggi mushroom soup base. Add a dollop of Greek yoghurt and a drizzle of truffle oil to finish.
For a bowl of green goodness, use a broccoli soup base and add blanched kale, silverbeet or spinach, blitzed and garnished with crispy bacon bits and crumbled feta.
Add a touch of luxury to a pumpkin soup base by adding a swirl of Tatua crème fraîche, crumbled with blue cheese and topped with chopped rosemary and black pepper.
Chicken noodle soup makes a great base for hearty comforting bowls of goodness – just add shredded or leftover roast or cooked chicken, vegetables and fresh chopped parsley. For a change of vibe, add aromatics like Thai style chilli, spring onion, mung beans, coriander and a squeeze of lime.
