Upgrade Bland Canned Soup With A Savory Cabbage Twist

On those days when cooking a meal from scratch just isn't an option, convenience foods like canned soup are a lifesaver. They grant us time and keep dinner stress-free, but they don't typically wow anybody with exciting flavors. Sometimes, canned soup is overly salty. Other times, it is just plain bland. Thankfully, without much extra effort on your part, you can upgrade these convenient foods by supplementing them with some easy-to-prepare ingredients.

A comforting hot and sour soup is simple at its core, but it is begging for something to make it more interesting. By cooking some shredded cabbage in oil before adding the soup, you can easily incorporate a sweet and slightly nutty flavor into the dish in minutes. If you want to take it to another level, swirl in a raw egg while it is simmering. Now, instead of a humdrum bowl of hot and sour, you have a savory egg drop soup with a texture that excites the palate.

This is just one example of elevating canned soup, however. With a bit of extra ingenuity, there are practically countless ways to make a simple food like this taste as if it was prepared by a professional.

Sticking with the cabbage theme, there are a few other canned soups that would welcome a textural nuance while enhancing the flavor. A simple beef and vegetable mix generally includes staple veggies like carrots and tomatoes, but braising some cabbage in oil before cooking the amalgam gives the dish some personality. Another staple canned soup that would benefit from the sweet notes of braised cabbage is a hearty minestrone. The hint of nutty sweetness from the veg complements the tender noodles and earthy beans, and the dish is more filling and flavorful overall.

If cabbage isn't your thing, there are other elements that can take canned soup to new heights. One easy way to upgrade several variations — and add some protein — is by picking up a versatile rotisserie chicken from the supermarket and shredding some into concoction. Without ever having to touch the oven, you can add deliciously roasted meat to an invigorating bowl of comfort food.

Don't forget about your herbs and spices hanging around the kitchen. By simply adding a dash of cayenne pepper or some chopped cilantro, you are almost creating an entirely new dish. Think of your canned soups as a blank slate. Consider the composition they start with when opened and incorporate complementary ingredients as you taste-test the dish (not doing so is a big seasoning mistake) until it's exactly the way you want it.