Description
Comforting classic Italian tomato soup brings warmth and depth to your winter meals. Fresh San Marzano tomatoes and aromatic basil create a rich, smooth experience you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 can (28 ounces / 794 grams) whole peeled tomatoes (San Marzano)
- 2 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 1 large onion, diced
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cooking and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare aromatics by warming olive oil in a spacious pot over medium heat. Gently sauté diced onions for 5-7 minutes until they become soft and translucent. Introduce minced garlic and cook briefly until its aroma intensifies.
- Incorporate tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to enhance flavor complexity. Add whole peeled tomatoes, crushing them with a wooden spoon. Pour vegetable broth into the mixture, creating a rich base.
- Enhance the soup’s depth by adding sugar, dried herbs, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Elevate heat to bring contents to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Allow the soup to develop flavors for 20-25 minutes, stirring intermittently.
- Transform the soup’s texture using an immersion blender to create a silky smooth consistency. Alternatively, carefully transfer soup to a standard blender, processing until completely uniform. Return mixture to pot if necessary.
- For a luxurious finish, fold in heavy cream, gently warming for 2-3 minutes without reaching a boiling point. This step adds a velvety richness to the soup’s profile.
- Serve the soup in individual bowls, adorning with fresh basil leaves. Customize with optional garnishes like Parmesan cheese, crisp croutons, a delicate olive oil drizzle, balsamic glaze, or a dollop of tangy sour cream.
Notes
- Enhance the tomato flavor by using fire-roasted canned tomatoes for a deeper, smokier taste that adds complexity to the soup.
- Skip the cream for a lighter, vegan-friendly version by substituting with coconut milk or nutritional yeast for richness.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium broth and adjusting salt levels gradually during cooking, tasting as you go.
- Boost nutrition by adding a handful of fresh spinach or kale during the final minutes of simmering, which wilts the greens and adds extra vitamins.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg