A creamy tomato soup recipe that will become a family favourite during the colder months.
There is nothing quite like the cozy feeling of a warm bowl of soup on a chilly autumn or winter evening. For the longest time, my go-to was a hearty vegetable soup, a cherished childhood favorite that my dad always made. However, for the past few years now I have been craving tomato soup despite never having tasted it before. It was probably because I would constantly see it being made by many.
So, with colder days approaching, I thought it was time to try making it at home. It turned out amazing, and I’m excited to share this simple and delicious creamy tomato soup recipe with you.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the steps to prepare this delicious creamy tomato basil soup. Plus, I’ll share the recipe for the perfect grilled pesto cheese sourdough bread for that irresistible dip. After all, having tomato soup without a side of grilled cheese would be a crime!
Whether you want a quick and easy dinner or a cozy cold-weather meal, this recipe is perfect. It’s super healthy with no added sugar but still packed with the comforting flavour we all love.
What makes this recipe special is how easy it is, using common kitchen ingredients. It’s a great option for days when your fridge is a bit empty but you still want a cozy meal. Plus, I’ve added some helpful tips and variations you can try out. Make sure you rate this recipe and let me know what you think! And tag me on your Instagram stories too @lotsoflovemariam.
This post is all about a creamy tomato soup recipe.
Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe
Ingredients Needed To Make This Easy Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
- Fresh vine tomatoes: make sure these are ripe or else the soup will taste bitter.
- Vegetable stock
- Garlic
- White onion
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Dried/fresh thyme: I used dried thyme.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Butter: I used plant-based dairy dairy-free butter but you can definitely use any butter you like.
- Tomato puree
- Plant-based single cream: I used alpros soy single cream.
How To Make Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
- Preheat your oven then start by lining a baking tray with non-stick parchment paper. This will prevent the tomatoes from sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Take your fresh tomatoes and cut them in half. Place them on the tray with the cut side facing up. Then add sea salt and black pepper over the tomato halves. To enhance the flavor, generously add thyme and extra olive oil over them.
- Now, gently flip the tomato halves over so the cut side faces down. This helps them cook evenly and intensifies their flavors. Next, add whole garlic cloves (with the skin on) to the tray alongside the tomatoes.
- Place the tray in your oven and let the tomatoes roast until they become soft and slightly caramelized.
- While the roasted tomatoes are cooling down, you can start preparing the onions. In a deep pan, add a combination of butter and olive oil. The butter adds richness while the olive oil prevents it from burning.
- Add your finely chopped onions to the pan and cook them over medium-low heat. Keep an eye on them, stirring occasionally, until they turn soft and take on a lovely brown color. This process usually takes about 5-10 minutes.
- Once your onions are soft and slightly browned, add the tomato puree. Stir it into the onions and let it cook for about 2 minutes. This step adds depth and richness to your soup.
- Remove the skins from the roasted garlic cloves. Add both the roasted tomatoes (even the liquid) and the garlic to the pan.
- Stir in some fresh basil leaves and pour in a cup of vegetable stock. Allow your tomato soup mixture to simmer over low heat for the next 30 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.
- After the simmering, use an immersion blender to blend the soup until it’s perfectly smooth.
- To add creaminess, pour in your plant-based single cream and blend once more. Continue blending until you achieve a creamy texture.
Other Healthy Lunch/Dinner Ideas You May Also Like:
- Ultimate Homemade Beef Burger Fakeaway: A Healthy Twist
- 7 Easy Healthy Lunch Ideas For Busy People
- Protein-Packed Chicken BLT Pasta Salad
How To Make The Grilled Cheese Sourdough To Dip In Your Tomato Soup
You have to make this as a side because it would be a crime to have your tomato soup without a grilled cheese!
Ingredients Needed:
- Sourdough bread: You can use other types of bread if you wish such as Baguette slices, Brioche, and Ciabatta.
- Butter: I used plant-based dairy-free butter for this too
- Basil Pesto
- Cheese: I used mild cheddar cheese but you can use any cheese of your choice.
Instructions:
- On one side of each slice, generously spread some of your butter.
- In a grill pan, place one slice of bread with the buttered side down. Add 1-2 teaspoons of pesto (adjust based on your bread’s size) and your choice of cheese on top of the bread.
- Place the second slice of bread on top, making sure the buttered side is facing up, creating a sandwich.
- Allow the sandwich to cook until the bottom side turns a lovely golden color. This is when you know it’s perfectly toasted.
- Carefully flip the sandwich to toast the other side. You want both sides to be nicely toasted and the cheese inside to melt to perfection.
- Once your grilled cheese is beautifully golden on both sides and the cheese is all melty, remove it from the pan.
- Cut it in half to create two halves, perfect for dipping.
- Serve your freshly grilled cheese alongside your bowl of creamy tomato basil soup.
Tips And Variations:
Tips:
- Ripe tomatoes: Make sure your tomatoes are ripe to ensure that your tomato soup does not come out bitter.
- Roasts your tomatoes: There are so many ways to make tomato soup but roasting your tomatoes results in a caramelized sweetness.
- Texture options: You can blend smooth or leave it slightly chunky for varied textures.
Variations:
- Tomato-Veggie Combo: If you would like more veggies then you can roast some carrots and bell peppers with your tomatoes.
- Vegan/Dairy-Free Options: Use coconut milk or cashew cream for a dairy-free version. This creamy tomato soup recipe is a dairy-free option, using dairy-free butter and soy single cream (you can definitely add dairy if you prefer).
How To Store
Storing tomato soup properly is important to maintain its freshness and flavour.
Refrigeration:
- Allow the tomato soup to cool to room temperature before storing.
- Transfer the soup to an airtight container or a lidded pot.
- Seal the container tightly to prevent air from entering.
- Label the container with the date to keep track of freshness.
- Place the container in the refrigerator.
Freezing (for longer storage):
- If you want to store tomato soup for an extended period, freezing is a great option.
- Cool the soup completely before freezing.
- Pour the soup into a freezer-safe container, leaving some space at the top to allow for expansion.
- Seal the container tightly and label it with the date.
- You can also use resealable freezer bags for single servings.
Reheating:
- When reheating refrigerated soup, use a microwave or stovetop.
- Microwave: Heat in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring occasionally, until hot.
- Stovetop: Transfer to a pot and reheat over low to medium heat, stirring frequently until heated through.
- For frozen soup, defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat using the same methods.
Storage Duration:
- Tomato soup can typically be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Frozen tomato soup can be kept for 2-3 months.
Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe
Equipment
- Large baking tray
- non-stick baking paper
- Large pot
- Immersion blender
- Small saucepan (for the vegetable stock) Melt one vegetable stock (instructions will be on the packet - we will be using this for the soup)
Ingredients
- 12 medium Vine tomatoes
- 1 tbsp Dried thyme (you can use fresh)
- 4 Garlic cloves (skin on)
- Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup Vegetable stock
- 1 medium White onion
- 1 tbsp Butter (I used dairy-free)
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 large handful Fresh basil leaves
- 1.5 tbsp Tomato Puree
Grilled Cheese (This is for one serving)
- 2 slices Sourdough bread
- 1-2 tsp Basil pesto
- Cheese of your choice (I used mild cheddar)
- Butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C.
- Line a baking tray with non-stick parchment paper. Cut your tomatoes in half and place them, cut side up, on the tray.
- Sprinkle sea salt, pepper, a generous amount of thyme, and olive oil over the tomatoes. Then, flip them. Then add your garlic cloves to the tray.
- Pop the tray in the oven and bake until the tomatoes turn soft (between 25-30 minutes)
- While they cool down, start prepping the onions.
- In a deep pan, melt some butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until they become soft and brown.
- Stir in the tomato puree and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Remove the skins from the roasted garlic and add both the garlic and the roasted tomatoes (with the liquid) to the pan.
- Mix everything together and add basil and a cup of vegetable stock.
- Let it simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After simmering, use an immersion blender to blend the tomato soup until it's completely smooth.
- Pour in the plant-based single cream and blend until you achieve a creamy texture.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Take two sourdough bread slices and spread the butter on one side of each.
- In a grill pan, place one bread slice with buttered side down. Add 1-2 tsp of pesto and your choice of cheese, then top with the second slice (buttered side up).
- Toast the sandwich until both sides are golden and the cheese is melted.
- Cut the grilled cheese in half and serve it alongside your creamy tomato basil soup for dipping.
- Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!
Don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment down below! I would love to hear what you guys think.
Make sure to follow my socials – Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Amazon Storefront, and LikeToKnowIt – for more healthy lifestyle content!
Lots of love, Mariam x
If you found this post helpful, please share it on Pinterest with others by clicking on the image and the Pinterest sign. Thank you!
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Any purchases made through Affiliate links are massively appreciated as they help to support the blog and continue its production. Please read the full disclosure here.
This post was all about a creamy tomato soup recipe!
Other posts you may also like:
[…] Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe […]