Awesome Sides For Easy Lentil Soup

By Melissa Jones


Soups make a great meal for both comfort and the main course. There are many different types out there and many people struggle with what to put with them. There are great sides for an easy lentil soup that makes for a whole meal or a quick snack. Sides should be easy and delicious to enhance the whole experience. Nothing comforts more than a great soup and side.

Making a salad is easier than you might imagine. Restaurant quality salads are that way because they prepare it ahead of time. With a lettuce or spinach base, you can add the ingredients and have just as good a salad. Roasted walnuts and brown butter dressing along with red onions and croutons turn a salad into a delicious addition to any meal.

A fun side is the potato puff. It is easy to make and can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for quick snacks later. The idea is to take leftover mashed potatoes and add cheeses, bacon, chives, and other tasty ingredients. Add a couple of eggs to stiffen them up. Scoop them into a muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes or until the tops begin to darken to a nice golden brown.

Try your hand at roasted garlic broccoli. This is actually a nice healthy side that goes great with soups or a larger meal. Take frozen or fresh broccoli florets and drizzle them with both garlic powder and olive oil. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until they are done. They should be soft when you poke them with a fork. When you serve them, add some parmesan cheese to enhance them just a bit.

Pull apart cheese bread is a big favorite for soups and comfort food. Take a nice artisan round loaf of bread and cut it in two directions, making a crisscross pattern. Do not cut it all the way through or it will fall apart. Using your choice of cheese and spices, stuff them down between the cuts of the bread. Bake it in the oven for about about 20 minutes covered, then again for 10 minutes uncovered. Let it cool a bit and then pull the pieces out and use them for dipping or eat them directly.

Pita bread chips are a great addition. When you bake them, you want them to come out nice and crispy. Start by cutting them into triangles just like chips. Then dust them with some desired spices and some olive oil. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until crisp at around 350 degrees. Flip them halfway to be sure to get both sides nice and crispy. Server them with soup or sour cream for dipping.

Naan bread can be used for great dipping sticks. Cut the bread into rectangles and brush with butter or olive oil. After they are lightly toasted you can dip them in soups or some homemade hummus. The roasted red pepper hummus is delicious and can be made in a food processor in just a matter of minutes.

Side dishes are great for both snacks and additions to dinners. They can be healthy and delicious at the same time. Salads are often served in restaurants and can be just as good at home. Other sides that are easy and healthy are variations of Naan, Pita, and other types of delicious bread.




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