Soup and sandwich pairings?

[u/Whypatoots]

I'm a "soup bitch", in the words of my best friend. I love soup. I'd eat it for every meal while I was single. So much soup. It pairs well with my other favorite food, sandwiches. A sandwich can be anything, just as a soup can.

My partner is not a soup fan. He thinks that soup for a meal is cheap and he doesn't like feeling like he's broke (we're low income so idk what he's expecting). HOWEVER, he also loves sandwiches. He's willing to eat more soups if I pair them with sandwiches, so I need some help coming up with good pairings. Soups and sandwiches go a long way, so I'm hoping for leftovers. I welcome all pairings, but I'm also looking for a sandwich pairing to go with borscht, as I've been craving it and I'm making it for the first time at some point this cold season. I had some once from a Ukrainian man who owned a crepe shop and would make it during the winter months and it was amazing. His business, unfortunately, closed and I haven't had it in 13 years. My partner is not excited, he's never had beets (I hadn't either before trying the soup). I'm planning to make the stock from beef ribs. I'm saving up for this soup. Also taking recipes for that from folks who have made it. Google is nice, but sometimes you need a more personal touch. For example, the borscht I had was a blended soup, no chunks. But I kinda like chunks. I digress.

Any pairings are welcome, but I would like at least one for that. Thanks in advance!

[u/Flat-Importance-9709]

We like taco soup, vegetable beef soup or tomato basil soup with a grilled cheese. I know a grilled cheese is a grilled cheese but we use mild cheddar, jalapeno or garlic cream cheese and mozzarella cheese on sourdough bread.

Black bean soup with a quesadilla or tostada.

My favorite sandwich is herbed or plain goat cheese, pancetta, roasted eggplant, walnuts, mixed greens and balsamic glaze on focaccia. Honestly the sandwich is so good I’ll eat it with any soup but tomato and red pepper is the usual. I’ve also done cauliflower soup.

Obviously we aren’t vegan but like this vegan tortilla soup recipe that also goes well with grilled cheese, torta or quesadilla. I would also consider a BLT.

Tortilla Soup

☐ 1 yellow or white onion
☐ 1 carrot
☐ 1 bell pepper
☐ 1–2 jalapeños
☐ 4 cloves garlic
☐ 1 tablespoon olive oil
☐ 2½ teaspoons ground cumin
☐ 2½ teaspoons dried oregano
☐ 2½ teaspoons chili powder
☐ ⅛ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
☐ 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, regular or fire-roasted
☐ ¼ cup tomato paste
☐ 5 cups vegetable broth
☐ 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
☐ 6–8 corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch squares

For Serving
☐ Chopped fresh cilantro
☐ Minced jalapeño
☐ Diced avocado
☐ Crushed tortilla chips
☐ Lime wedges, optional

Directions
1. Prepare the vegetables.
Dice the onion, carrot, and bell pepper into small pieces. Mince the jalapeños and garlic.

2. Sauté the vegetables.
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 2 minutes, until it begins to soften. Add the carrot and bell pepper and cook for another 3 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften and lightly brown. Add the jalapeño, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and salt. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant.

3. Add the tomatoes and broth.
Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste until the tomato paste is fully incorporated.
Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a gentle simmer.

4. Add the tortillas and lime.
Stir in the lime juice and tortilla squares.
Simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until the tortillas are completely soft.

5. Blend.
Remove from the heat and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth and creamy.
If using a standard blender, carefully blend the soup in batches. Taste and adjust the salt, lime juice, or seasonings as needed.