This Rich, Savory Soup Is An Unexpected Match For A Classic BLT

Soup and a sandwich is a dynamic duo of filling foods, offering plenty of possibilities for creative pairings. A basic BLT –- that's bacon, lettuce, and tomato –- is fairly simple in composition, so it offers a chance to pair it with an accompanying soup that has a bit more complexity. One of the absolute best ways to elevate your BLT is to serve it alongside a cup or bowl of French onion soup.

It may be an unexpected match at first blush, but these two classic dishes go together surprisingly well. The smoky, hearty flavors of the bacon complement the savory beef- and onion-forward broth of the soup. On the flip side, the richness of the cheese in a French onion soup is a delightful counter to the crisp and refreshing tomato and lettuce ingredients in your BLT sandwich. If you're planning to prepare a sweet heat BLT recipe, the cheese in your French onion soup will also help to temper some of the spice.

While grilled cheese and tomato soup is one of the most iconic soup and sandwich pairings, French onion soup and a BLT sandwich are coming for the crown as a creative way to pair unexpected flavors and textures together.

Considering the many ways you can modify a typical BLT or a batch of French onion soup, the options for putting these two together are nearly limitless. For example, both French onion soup and a BLT sandwich call for bread. An accent of cheese-topped bread is the famed finishing touch for a bowl of French onion soup and a BLT relies on a pair of slices to house the bacon, lettuce, and tomato within. But if you want to avoid a carb overload, skip the large hunk of cheese bread in your French onion soup in favor of cheese crisps and use pieces of French bread for your BLT sandwich instead. Or you could toast the bread for your BLT with a layer of Gruyère to go along with the cheese in your French onion soup.

If you plan to grill your BLT for sweeter, smokier results, consider using a smoked Gouda cheese in place of the traditional Gruyère in your soup to match the sandwich's flavor. Other upgrades for your BLT include using heirloom tomatoes for more complexity and little gem lettuce or alternative, crunchier greens in your sandwich. In lieu of a standard slather of mayonnaise on your BLT, try a garlic and onion aioli to tie in with the flavors of your French onion soup accompaniment. There's no end to the tasty ways you can enjoy a BLT and French onion soup.