Description
Hearty homemade tomato soup delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending ripe tomatoes with aromatic herbs. Creamy, rich flavors welcome you to savor each spoonful of pure culinary warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) tomatoes, fresh, cut into 2 pieces
- 1 quart (0.95 liters) vegetable broth
- 1/2 onion, diced (1 cup)
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
Thickening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Optional Ingredient:
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup (60 to 120 milliliters) heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare a generous baking sheet by lightly coating it with oil to prevent sticking during roasting.
- Combine whole tomatoes, sliced onions, and peeled garlic cloves in a mixing bowl, thoroughly coating them with olive oil, then season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Arrange the vegetable mixture in a uniform layer across the prepared baking sheet, ensuring no overlapping to promote even caramelization.
- Roast the vegetables in a preheated oven, initially for 15 minutes, then rotate and redistribute for another 15 minutes to develop rich, deep flavors.
- Activate the broiler for a final 3-minute burst, allowing select tomatoes to develop a delicate charred exterior and enhance overall complexity.
- Transfer the roasted vegetables to a high-performance blender, introducing fresh basil leaves to create a smooth, vibrant puree with an intense herbaceous profile.
- In a substantial cooking pot, melt butter and incorporate flour, continuously whisking until the mixture achieves a golden, nutty appearance.
- Gradually introduce vegetable broth and a touch of sugar, stirring consistently to prevent lumps and create a harmonious base.
- Pour the blended tomato mixture into the pot, optionally enriching with a measured amount of heavy cream for added luxurious texture.
- Allow the soup to gently simmer, developing depth and melding flavors for approximately 15 minutes.
- Conduct a final seasoning assessment, adjusting salt and pepper to personal preference.
- Serve immediately, offering optional garnishes like crisp croutons, delicate basil chiffonade, or an elegant cream drizzle.
Notes
- Roasting the tomatoes intensifies their natural sweetness and creates a deeper, more complex flavor profile compared to using raw tomatoes.
- Broiling at the end adds a subtle charred note that brings a smoky dimension to the soup, enhancing its overall taste complexity.
- For a dairy-free version, replace butter with olive oil and skip the heavy cream, using coconut milk or vegetable broth to maintain richness.
- Ensure even roasting by cutting tomatoes and vegetables into similar-sized pieces, allowing uniform caramelization and preventing burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 48 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg