It’s the most wonderful time of the year—soup season! Seventy-eight percent of consumers have an affinity for soup,1 and cooler temps in the months ahead are sure to coax cravings out of your guests. As you continue to plan your fall and winter menus, keep in mind options for customers seeking solace in a warm bowl of soup. We like a good mix of classic, seasonal, and globally-inspired to cover all the bases—and our bases have you covered for creating them all.
Classics provide familiar comfort—eliciting nostalgic, cozy, and warm feelings upon the first spoonful. Elevate traditional chicken noodle soup in this Hearty Chicken Soup with Ancient Grains. The produce variety and grains take it up a notch from the standard recipe, but execution is still a breeze utilizing clean label Custom Culinary® True Foundations™ Chicken Base. Add additional flavor elements by roasting the barley or farro prior to cooking, or create interesting texture variations with colored quinoa or wheat berries. French Onion finds itself within the top ten menued soups2. The robust flavors joined by bubbly, browned cheese atop a toasted baguette makes for a winning combination. Our recipe sticks to the customary list of ingredients, utilizing our Gold Label Savory Roasted® Beef Base for rich flavor. Don’t forget about plant-based options. This Cauliflower and Bean Chili will please carnivores and vegans alike with its hearty and flavorful ingredient list.
Incorporating seasonal components into recipes creates several opportunities. Seasonal ingredients not only connect consumers to a specific time of year, but also generate “get-it-while-you-can” urgency. They give you the chance to support local farmers and serve the produce unique to your area, while potentially bringing forward some cost savings as in-season prices sometimes lower. This first seasonal recipe transitions well from summer to fall, as Sopa de Calabacitas con Queso uses zucchini, yellow squash, corn, and hatch chilis which are wrapping up their seasons. Butternut squash and Granny Smith apples are staples of fall and blend perfectly with sage, yellow onions, and our True Foundations™ Chicken and Roasted Vegetable Bases in this Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Sage recipe. While seasonal plants are the star of all these recipes, again our final suggestion focuses on a plant-forward option. Marrakesh Autumn Lentil Soup is nourishing and filling with an exotic touch. Serve with or without Greek yogurt to satisfy vegan diners.
Nods of global-inspiration can be found amongst some of the before-mentioned recipes, but here’s a few more for guests who are looking for a little adventure. Asian-Style Coconut and Chicken Soup combines mushrooms, lime juice, ginger root, cilantro, green onions, red pepper, and curry paste in a coconut milk base. Brazilian Moqueca also uses coconut milk along with Gold Label Shrimp Base and sustainably-sourced farm-raised seafood. Even timid guests can enjoy a global-American mashup when ordering this Philly Noodle Bowl, made with Custom Culinary® Beef Pho Broth, ramen noodles, roast beef, peppers, onions, and mozzarella cheese.
Whatever soups, stews, or chilis you choose to serve on your menu, don’t miss the chance to help home cooks and holiday hosts as they do their own meal planning this season. Offer to-go quarts of your signature soups to lighten their load while boosting your bottom line. Be sure to shrink wrap the quarts to avoid spills! If you’re looking for more menu inspiration, take your time browsing our full soup recipe database.
We can’t wait to see what you serve up!
1 Datassential FLAVOR 2021
2 Datassential SNAP! Instant Charts: Most Popularly Menued Soup Varieties, October 2021
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