Top Your Soup With Mashed Potatoes For The Most Comforting Meal

Soup and mashed potato are undoubtedly some of the most beloved homemade dishes out there. Neatly woven into happy childhood memories and family dinner nights, they never fail to bring a wholesome sense of familiarity that soothes both the belly and the heart. This is why it's no surprise that when combined, these two dishes would make such a heart-warming, enticing comfort food. The mashed potatoes bulk up the soup with its creamy rich, velvety smooth consistency. The soup, in return, infuses it with hearty, savory flavors, although the mashed potatoes themselves also supply their own buttery, milky notes. What you end up getting with every spoonful is a perfect balance of intense taste and gratifying textures that just melt right onto the taste buds.

Additionally, the combination is quite versatile and open to almost any adaptation. This opens up a world of possibilities for experimentation and effortless transformation. Whether it's a rich stew, a light and umami chicken soup, or a decadent cream soup, a scoop or two of mashed potatoes on top will be a much-welcomed addition. You can even use mashed potatoes from last night's meal, so it's also a great way to repurpose leftover food, giving your soup a satisfying shepherd's pie feel. Moreover, crowning the soup bowl with golden, creamy mashed potatoes can elevate its visual appeal. Done carefully, it adds a touch of elegance to the dish's rustic simplicity, making it suitable for both casual dinners and formal gatherings.

Read more: 23 Types Of Potatoes And When To Use Them

A Comfort Food Hack Loaded With Great Possibilities

Any soup and stew that has a slightly thick or creamy consistency would fare extremely well with mashed potatoes. Then, you also have the overall flavor profile to consider. If you like a striking flavor contrast, consider beef stew, chili, minestrone soup, mulligatawny, or French onion soup for a tumultuous mix of robust, savory notes and the potatoes' starchy, buttery goodness. On the other hand, cream soup varieties like mushroom, broccoli and cheddar, split pea, tomato, or corn chowder are fantastic mash-partners for an ultra-creamy experience. That's not all, of course. Feel free to experiment with any soup that you desire.

With the mashed potatoes, you also have quite a few choices. As you're mashing the potatoes, you can infuse them with extra flavor by adding spices and herbs. Then, once done, simply spooning a dollop of the mashed potatoes over the cooked soup always works, but you can take it one step further and give the topped bowls a quick broil in the oven to make a crispy potato crust. This works particularly well with French onion soup and shepherd's pie soup as it ties right into these dishes' decadent nature. Also consider some quintessential mashed potato toppings like bacon, chopped scallions, or shredded cheese for a finishing flourish.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.