Best Bread for Broccoli Cheese Soup: Top Picks and Pairing Tips
Struggling to decide what is the best bread for broccoli cheese soup?
Well, have your answer in this ultimate guide to finding that perfect bread that will elevate your broccoli cheese soup to gourmet heights. Stick around, and we’ll reveal the secret to a flawless soup and bread pairing!
Short for time?
In our experience, crusty, hearty breads often work best with broccoli cheese soup because they hold up well when dipped without becoming too soggy.
Our favorites are:
- Sourdough, for example, has a distinctive tangy flavor and chewy texture that pairs wonderfully with the creaminess of broccoli cheese soup.
- Another excellent choice is a crusty French baguette, which offers a crispy exterior and soft interior, perfect for soaking up all that deliciousness.
- If you want a fun idea, try the classic bread bowl. A round loaf of bread with a firm crust and a soft crumb can be hollowed out and filled with soup, providing a tasty and unique presentation.
Let’s explore these types of breads more below.
Best Bread for Broccoli Cheese Soup
You Can’t Go Wrong with Sourdough!
Have you ever heard of a symphony of flavors? Well, that’s precisely what you get when you pair sourdough bread’s tangy, rustic charm with the creamy, indulgent delight of broccoli cheese soup.
Sourdough, with its distinctive taste and firm, chewy texture, is the perfect counterbalance to the smooth richness of the soup. It holds up well without turning soggy, and its unique flavor profile adds complexity to each bite.
But wait, there’s more to sourdough than just being a sturdy soup companion.
The natural fermentation process that gives sourdough its character makes it easier to digest and more nutritious. Its slight acidity can help cut through the richness of the cheese, making your soup feel lighter and less overwhelming.
So not only does it taste fantastic, but it’s also a healthier choice. A win-win situation if there ever was one! So next time you’re enjoying a bowl of broccoli cheese soup, remember to invite sourdough to the party. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by this delightful duo.
The French Baguette is a Classic for a Reason
Picture this: a warm, crusty French baguette, with its golden exterior and soft, airy interior, dipped into a bowl of creamy broccoli cheese soup.
The baguette is an ideal companion to this soup for numerous reasons.
Firstly, its crusty outer layer adds a delightful crunch that contrasts splendidly with the silky smoothness of the soup. Each bite is a symphony of textures that keeps your palate excited.
Now, let’s remember the flavor. The French baguette’s slight sweetness perfectly complements the broccoli cheese soup’s rich, savory taste.
The soft, porous interior of the baguette also acts like a sponge, absorbing the soup and allowing you to savor every drop.
It’s not just about eating bread with soup. It’s an experience that makes every mouthful even more delightful.
Bread Bowl
A bread bowl makes having broccoli cheese soup a fun and delicious experience.
We recommend using a round, crusty bread with a sturdy exterior for the best bread bowl experience.
To create a bread bowl, simply hollow out the center of the bread and pour the warm soup inside. When making a bread bowl, we like to save the scooped-out bread for dipping – remember…, want not waste not 😉
Want to Give the Bread Bowl A Try?
We know what you’re thinking – that bread bowl idea sounds fun, right?
Well, it is! And the good news is it’s easy to make at home. Not only do they taste amazing, but they also add a personal touch to your meal.
Here’s a simple way to make your own bread bowls:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Cooking Instructions for Making Homemade Bread Bowls
- Mix the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a large bowl. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes so the yeast becomes foamy.
- Slowly add the flour, salt, and olive oil while mixing the dough. Continue to mix until the dough forms a ball.
- On a floured surface, knead the dough for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, covering it with a cloth, and let it rise for about 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has risen, separate it into four equal parts, then shape each into a round loaf.
- Place the loaves on a baking sheet, cover them with a cloth, and let them rise for 30 more minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit (205° Celsius) and bake the bread bowls for 25-30 minutes until they develop a golden-brown crust.
- Remove them from the oven and let them cool.
- Carefully cut out the center of each loaf to create the bread bowls, saving the inside bread for dipping.
Have you tried this? Let us know how it went!
Other Serving Suggestions for Broccoli Cheese Soup
We always encourage our readers to have fun in the kitchen, so why not try these serving suggestions next time you’re enjoying a bowl of broccoli cheese creamy soup?
Garnished with Croutons
You know what we absolutely love? Having broccoli cheese soup with a sprinkle of croutons on top.
And guess what? Making croutons at home is a piece of cake!
Plus, it’s an excellent way to use any leftover bread you might have – like the bits of the bread from the center of your bread bowl!
We have to dice the bread into small pieces (our favorites are sourdough or rye), drizzle some olive oil over them, and pop them into the oven.
We keep them there until they turn golden and crispy. These heavenly little crunchy cubes will make your soup even more amazing!
But the magic of croutons doesn’t stop at the taste. They also add a fun crunch that plays off the smooth, creamy texture of the soup.
And hey, why not add a personal touch to your croutons? Toss in some garlic, parmesan, or fresh herbs before baking them for extra flavor.
So go ahead, have fun, and experiment in the kitchen!
Served with a Side Salad
Do you want to make a delicious broccoli cheddar soup even better?
Pairing it with a tasty side salad.
The salad contrasts the creamy and rich soup with a fresh and crunchy contrast. Plus, it’s a sneaky way to pack more vitamins into your meal.
Now, making a salad doesn’t have to be rocket science. Grab some mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Toss them all together, and boom! You’ve got a salad.
For an extra punch, drizzle some tangy vinaigrette dressing over it. If you’re feeling fancy, toss in some feta cheese or slices of avocado.
And who says you can’t have a bit of bread with your soup?
Try serving your soup with some jalapeño cheddar cornbread – HINT – make sure to use sharp cheddar cheese.
It’s a cool spin on the usual bread and soup combo.
So next time you’re hugging a warm bowl of broccoli cheese soup, remember to whip up a quick salad, too. Trust us, it’s a pairing that’ll make your meal not just tasty but pretty darn satisfying without making you feel overstuffed. Give it a go and enjoy your meal!
With a Cheese Toast Float
It’s hard to beat a cheese toasty float with soup! And here’s why…
- Firstly, it’s all about the playful juxtaposition of textures. The creaminess of the soup perfectly complements the crispy, golden-brown toast. And when you dip the toast into the delicious soup, it soaks up all that cheesy goodness, transforming into a deliciously gooey treat that’s just flavorful.
- This is a fun twist on the classic soup and sandwich combo. It takes something familiar and comforting and gives it an exciting new spin. It’s a fantastic way to surprise your family or guests and will surely spark some interesting dinner table conversations!
- Thirdly, it’s an opportunity to experiment and get creative in the kitchen. You may want to sprinkle some fresh herbs over the hot soup or add a dash of hot sauce to the toast for an extra kick. The possibilities are endless!
- Finally, it’s a great way to make the delicious meal more interactive and engaging. Instead of simply eating their soup and sandwich separately, diners can have fun dipping their toast into the soup and discovering new flavors with each bite.
