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5 Tasty Side Dishes to Eat with Tomato Soup

Maria Foster
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by Maria Foster

Who would have thought that three ingredients — butter, onion, and tomato — could result in such a silky and delicious tomato soup?

Tomatoes are full of vitamins C, A, K, Potassium, and antioxidants. Eating tomato soup is the best way to soak all the nutrients from tomatoes.

But what to pair it with? A salad, sandwich, roasted veggies, or something else?

Here are some of our favorite dishes to eat with tomato soup:

  • Fried Mozzarella Sticks
  • Homemade Italian Grissini/Breadsticks
  • Grilled Cheese Toast/Sandwich
  • Fully Loaded Baked Potato
  • Classic Greek Salad
Tomato Soup
Tomato Soup

1. Fried Mozzarella Sticks

Homemade mozzarella sticks — crispy, gooey, delicious, and so much better than any frozen ones you’ll find in a grocery store.

First things first, if you don’t have mozzarella, you can use a substitute, like Swiss cheese, for example.

Start with cutting the block of cheese in half.  Put it on its side and cut it half lengthwise, so you have 5 equal-sized sections. You should obtain around 20 mozzarella sticks from an 8oz block of cheese.

Once you have the cheese sticks, dust them with flour and shake them to remove any excess. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs and water, and dip the floured sticks into the mix.

Place breadcrumbs on a separate plate and roll the cheese sticks in it until they’re covered. Gently shake excess crumbs and repeat the last two steps for extra crunch. After you prepare all the mozzarella sticks, place them in the freezer for two hours.

Preheat the oil to 350°F (176°C) and fry the sticks until they’re golden brown. Don’t fry them all at once; make a few batches.

You don’t want them to stick together or to the bottom of the pan, so stir with a fork or a pair of tongs. Drain them on paper towels or a wire rack before serving to remove any excess oil.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks
Fried Mozzarella Sticks

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients: 8oz of mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup flour, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp water, 2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Tip: Always place the mozzarella sticks in the freezer before frying to avoid cheese blowout.

2. Homemade Italian Grissini/Breadsticks

Fresh Italian breadsticks make a great side dish for tomato soup. You can prepare the dough with a stand mixer or by hand. Begin by mixing together the instant dry yeast, sugar, and salt.

Then, add the warm water and whisk in the olive oil. Slowly add the flour. Begin with two cups and gradually add more until it reaches the appropriate consistency. The dough should be soft and gooey without being sticky to the touch.

Place the dough in a mixing bowl that has been gently greased. Roll it around the bowl until it’s totally coated. Cover it with a clean cloth and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.

When the dough is ready, lightly coat a baking sheet with oil or line it with parchment paper. Make 12 equal pieces of dough. Begin rolling them one at a time with your palms, using mild, steady pressure.

Avoid tugging or stretching the dough as you make tube-shaped pastries., Spread the sticks on the baking sheet, leaving enough space, so they’re not too close. Allow for a 20-minute rising time.

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and bake for 16-18 minutes until the breadsticks are golden brown. Mix the melted butter, garlic powder, and salt in a small bowl. Brush the breadsticks with this mixture once they come out of the oven. Finally, sprinkle parmesan cheese and Italian spice on top.

Homemade Italian GrissiniBreadsticks
Homemade Italian Grissini/Breadsticks

Prep time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Dough ingredients: 1 cup warm water, 1 tbsp instant dry yeast, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tsp salt, 3tbsp olive oil, 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Topping ingredients: 2 tbsp melted butter, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese, 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Tip: The amount of flour used in the dough might vary depending on the weather. Flour absorbs moisture from humidity in the summer and dries out when it’s cold. So, lower the water content in the summer and increase it in the winter. Don’t add all the flour at once; add it slowly until you have the right consistency.

3. Grilled Cheese Toast/Sandwich

A grilled cheese sandwich is a quick and practical snack that pairs perfectly with tomato soup, especially since you can make it in a matter of minutes. We suggest using thick slices of bread for the chewiest results.

Spread half a tablespoon of softened butter on one side of each slice. You may think that’s a lot of butter, but do not skimp on it. Butter gives the grilled cheese sandwich its crisp golden surface.

Next, place the first slice in a pan over medium-low heat, buttered side down. Stack the cheeses on top of the bread. The overall cooking time is around six to seven minutes on low heat.

Once the cheese starts to melt, add the top slice, close the sandwich and flip it over. Toast until both sides are a beautiful golden color. Slice in half and serve.

Grilled Cheese ToastSandwich
Grilled Cheese Toast/Sandwich

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients: 2 slices of toast bread (thick-sliced), softened butter, 1 slice medium Cheddar cheese, 1 slice Gouda cheese, 1 slice Havarti cheese

Tip: If you want the toast to be super crispy, make sure to butter the edges.

4. Fully Loaded Baked Potato

Stuffed baked potatoes are delicious, visually impressive, and not that hard to prepare.

Before you begin, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Brush the potatoes with olive oil and season with salt before placing them on a baking pan. Bake for 1 hour.

When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them vertically, scrape out the insides, and place the excess into a mixing bowl. Add cheese, green onions, bacon, sour cream, butter, milk, and pepper. Mix until all of the ingredients are combined into a nice mixture.

Fill the hollowed-out potatoes with the stuffing you made. Top with extra cheddar cheese and bacon, and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese fully melts. Serve warm, with more sour cream if desired, and garnish with chives.

Fully Loaded Baked Potato
Fully Loaded Baked Potato

Prep time: 1 and a half hours

Ingredients: 3 russet potatoes, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp salt, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, ½ chopped green onions, ¾ chopped bacon, ½ sour cream, 1 tbsp butter, ¼ cup milk, 1 tsp pepper, chives

Tip: Short and fat potatoes are far better.

5. Classic Greek Salad

This is a classic salad that’s good for almost any occasion and only requires a handful of ingredients.

Start by dicing the cucumber into bite-sized, easy-to-eat pieces. Next, slice the tomatoes in half and dice or thinly slice the onion. Pit the olives and cut them in half. The last component of a traditional Greek salad is feta cheese, which should be cut into small bite-sized pieces.

Even though the traditional recipe encourages feta cheese, you can always use a feta cheese substitute with a similar taste, such as tofu cheese. Once you have the cheese all diced up, combine everything in a large salad bowl.

For the vinaigrette, juice the lemon, and mix with olive oil in a small bowl. Add the red wine vinegar, dried oregano, black pepper, and salt to taste. Whisk everything well and pour the dressing over the salad. Give it a final stir, and you’re done.

Classic Greek Salad
Classic Greek Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes

Salad ingredients: 1 cucumber, 1 pint cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, ½ red onion, ½ cup olives, 1 cup feta cheese;

Dressing ingredients: ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, ½ cup lemon juice, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, ½ tsp dried oregano, ⅓ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper;

Tip: Use Greek feta cheese for a more authentic Mediterranean taste.

Conclusion

Tomato soup pairs well with many dishes, especially those rich in cheese, carbs, or both.

Crispy, gooey mozzarella sticks and tomato soup are a match made in heaven. If you aren’t in the mood for frying, you can go with Italian breadsticks. Stuffed baked potatoes are as good-looking as they’re delicious and sure to impress your friends and family.

A grilled cheese sandwich is the quickest alternative. For those seeking a lighter option, Greek salad is excellent — the tomato soup is hearty and filling, while the salad is refreshing.

You must be itching to slice and dice your tomatoes by now. Choose your favorite side dish, begin cooking, and enjoy!

About Maria Foster
Maria Foster
Maria Foster is a mother of 3 and she and her husband of 23 years share their home with 2 faithful dogs. Besides being CEO of the household and active in her community, Maria is the lead contributor to Food Champs and loves to try new food ideas and kitchen accessories to make easier and more delicious meals.
Maria Foster
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