Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe

There is something so fulfilling about making a big batch of fresh soup and today we’re making my favorite Creamy Tomato Soup.

My recipe uses canned whole-peeled tomatoes that are slowly simmered down with onions and herbs that compliment the tomato’s natural flavorful juices. We’ll blend it into a velvety consistency and stir in heavy cream because it will soften the tomato’s acidity. The end result is a balanced, flavorful soup. It pairs well with a chilly day and gooey grilled cheese sandwich.

Today happens to be that chilly spring day. It’s the type of weather that feels warm when you’re basking in direct sunlight, but as soon as the clouds and light sprinkle comes through it’s cool enough head inside for a warm bowl of tomato soup.

If you’re looking for serving ideas beyond the traditional grilled cheese, tomato soup is a perfect blank canvas that can handle many variations but be careful not to trail too far from it’s delicious simplicity! Also, remember that it’s fun to play around with different garnishes to find something new you might like.

Yield: 6 medium bowls

Best Creamy Tomato Soup

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My favorite Creamy Tomato Soup to battle chilly, rainy days. Lots of juicy tomato flavor with hint of cream. Serve with gooey grilled cheese for best result 🙂

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 medium white or yellow onions, diced
• 5 cloves garlic
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 1/3 tsp garlic powder
• 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes (I use Organic Muir Glen brand or San Marzanos)
• 3 cups water
• 2/3 cup cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place a large pot over medium high heat and add oil and butter.
2. Once the butter begins to foam, add the onions, stirring to coat them with the melted butter. Lower heat to medium low and cook for 12 minutes until translucent and soft - mixing the onions every few minutes.
3. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, dried parsley and garlic
   powder and stir.
4. Add the tomatoes and their juices and 1 cup of water to the
   pot and increase the heat to medium.
5. Cover and let simmer for 20, occasionally stirring and
   trying to break up tomatoes with back of mixing spoon.
6. Pour in remaining 2 cups of water and cook at a medium
   simmer for 15 more minutes.
7. Remove the soup from the heat and cool slightly, about 15
   minutes. Purée the soup directly in the saucepan using an immersion blender. A countertop blender also works well if you puree the soup in batches until smooth. 
8. Return the soup to the burner over low heat and stir in the
   cream. Add salt, black pepper and parsley to taste.

Notes

To make a vegan version of this tomato soup, replace the butter with Organic Earth Balance vegan butter and omit cream. To keep it creamy but vegan, stir in ¾ cup of cashew milk or 2/3 cup of unsweetened hemp creamer in lieu of cream.

Recipe adapted from Chowhound.com

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 97mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Garnish ideas for Tomato Soup

• Drizzle ½ tsp of white truffle oil over bowl of soup and serve with warm slices of fresh French baguette
• Sprinkle a bowl of soup with shredded Swiss and Gruyere cheese and serve with salty cracker rounds
• Keep it light by adding roughly chopped basil or sprigs of fresh dill

Although I love a basic buttery, grilled cheese sandwich oozing with Vermont Cheddar, there are also a few ways I like to jazz up the sandwich. Try some of these ideas if you’re bored by the same-old:

Jazzed up Grilled Cheese

• Sourdough bread – caramelized onions – Brie – crispy sage
• Rye bread – tomato – cheddar – red onion
• White bread – Provolone – sweet pickled jalapenos
• Italian bread – fontina – pear – arugula – Dijon

Whatever way you take your grilled cheese, it will probably pair perfectly with this tomato soup recipe. It’s always fun to experiment with flavors when you have staple classics to play with like tomato soup and grilled cheese. But you might find yourself steering back to the basics. Classics have a right to be on their pedestal too!

Looking for something a little different than tomato soup? Explore more of The Food Quest’s recipes.