Description
Comforting creamy tomato basil soup brings Italian countryside warmth to your kitchen with rich, velvety flavors. Ripe tomatoes and fresh basil dance together, creating a soul-warming bowl that connects you to Mediterranean culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (900g) ripe tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups (480ml) vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 large handful fresh basil leaves (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
- ¼ cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese for serving
- Croutons for garnish
Instructions
- Activate the oven to a scorching 400°F, preparing for roasting transformation.
- Slice tomatoes into halves, accompanying peeled garlic cloves on a baking sheet, lavishly drizzle with olive oil for caramelization during 25-30 minute roasting process.
- Warm a large pot, gently sauté diced onions until they become translucent and release their aromatic essence.
- Transfer roasted tomatoes and garlic into the pot, combining with broth and a touch of sugar, allowing ingredients to meld and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Introduce fresh basil leaves into the simmering mixture, then transform the soup into a velvety puree using an immersion blender until completely smooth.
- Elevate the flavor profile by seasoning with salt and pepper, creating a balanced taste experience.
- Optional: Swirl cream into the soup for enhanced richness and luxurious texture.
- Present the soup piping hot, adorned with delicate fresh basil leaves and a graceful olive oil drizzle.
Notes
- Roasting tomatoes intensifies their natural sweetness and adds depth of flavor to the soup, creating a more complex taste profile.
- Use Roma or San Marzano tomatoes for the most robust and rich tomato flavor, as they have fewer seeds and more meaty flesh.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut cream or cashew cream instead of traditional dairy cream to maintain the creamy texture.
- Blend the soup longer for an ultra-smooth consistency, or leave it slightly chunky if you prefer a more rustic texture with bits of roasted tomato.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg