Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup

Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup 

Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup is the latest soup invention in my household. My husband, Nathan, wasn’t remotely excited about this one to start with. He has never been a fan of tomato soup, until now. Because this soup with parmesan cheese is a million times better than anything you can buy in the grocery store. 

Fall is soup season in my household, and it is right around the corner. The nights are getting colder and I’m finding myself craving soup, curling up with my favorite hoodie and slippers, and getting ready for football. I thought this was the perfect way to kick off soup season! 

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Have you tried making this Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup yet? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup Ingredients 

Celery, 4 stalks, sliced thin on a mandolin 

Carrots, 4 medium, sliced into coins 

Onion, ½ of a medium one, diced 

Garlic, 4 cloves smashed 

Butter, 3 tablespoons 

Flour, ¼ cup 

Chicken Broth, 4 cups 

Fire Roasted Tomatoes, 2 cans with juice If you want to make your own, I’ll give you instructions below. 

Basil, 1 tablespoon dried or ¼ cup fresh chopped 

Oregano, 1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh 

Parsley, ½ teaspoon 

Salt and pepper, to taste

Ancho Chili Powder, ¼ teaspoon 

Bay Leaves, 2 

Heavy Cream, 2 cups 

Parmesan Cheese, 1 cup 

Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup Directions 

Start by preparing the onions, carrots, and celery. I used a mandolin for the celery, and baby carrots chopped, so they were all the same size. This made prepping a lot easier and faster. When you are done, all three piles of the carrots, onions, and celery should be about the same size. I didn’t count the number of baby carrots I used, just used sight as a measurement. 

Next take the garlic cloves and smash them. I didn’t chop, dice, or mince them at all because they’ll be blended later. Just smash them enough with the flat portion of your knife to release the natural oils in it. The larger the piece, the less likely it is to burn in the pan. That is why I don’t dice them up. 

Melt the butter in a dutch oven over medium heat. Add in the veggies and saute them until they start to soften. You’ll want to stir them often to keep them moving. You’ll notice the onions start to become translucent. That is when you want to add in the flour and a little more butter if necessary. Stir constantly with a spatula to cook out the raw flour taste. 

Whisk in the chicken broth and then the tomatoes, seasonings, and herbs. Bring this to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the carrots are tender. 

Add in the heavy cream and simmer for another 15-20 minutes. Then add in the parmesan cheese, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaves and taste. Add additional salt and pepper if desired. I prefer to wait until now to salt, because parmesan cheese is salty, and you don’t want it to be a salt bomb. 

Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until the chunks are gone and it has a smooth consistency. Note that you can also use a regular blender if you want a super smooth and creamy consistency. But I liked the rustic aspect of using an immersion blender. 

Serve with this garlic rosemary bread and enjoy! 

This Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup will last 4-5 days in the refrigerator, but I’ll be surprised if there is much left after you serve it. 

Recipe Notes 

This soup will freeze incredibly well because it is all pureed together. To freeze it, cool the soup completely before freezing. Transfer the soup to a freezer safe container, label it, and keep it for up to three months. To defrost it, move it to the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stovetop. 

Make it vegan! 

This Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup recipe is incredibly easy to make vegan and I always appreciate that, as my bestie is vegan. So I’m always on the hunt for ways to create my favorite meals that he can eat. 

To make it vegan, you’ll want to substitute vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Omit the parmesan cheese, and replace the heavy cream with coconut, almond, or cashew milk. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to whatever liquid you choose as a substitute to add more body to the soup that is missing from the heavy cream. Then replace the butter with olive oil.

Make it gluten free! 

Making this Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup recipe gluten free is also incredibly easy. Simply replace the flour with gluten free flour. Add in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the broth and whisk them together to create a slurry. 

Roast Fresh Tomatoes 

To roast your own fresh tomatoes instead of buying them in the can is easy. 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 

Cut three pounds of tomatoes in half. 

Coat the tomato halves in olive oil. 3-4 tablespoons should be plenty. 

Roast them in the oven for 40-45 minutes, and use the broil setting at the end for a little extra added char. 

Continue with the recipe, just using these oven roasted tomatoes instead of the canned ones. 

Why I Love This Recipe 

Soup has always been a comfort food to me, and living in the rainy pacific northwest, soups are perfect for those chilly fall nights. 

This Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup recipe is incredibly easy to make, and takes such minimal effort. Yet the taste makes it seem like you spent hours developing it because of the depth of flavor in it. 

I love that I could actually change my husband’s view on tomato soup with this incredible recipe. Because oftentimes we think of tomato soup from a can, because that was the normal thing growing up, especially in my household. I was raised on what I call “can to table” cooking, and everything was processed and out of a can or box. Which is never all that spectacular. 

Being able to make something amazing like that from scratch makes both the prepper and the homemaker in me very, very happy. I love the confidence I feel in knowing that I can make something completely from scratch that is delicious and simple. It is perfect for a busy weeknight when you want to sit down and enjoy some comfort food with the family. 

This soup is neither sweet nor acidic. Sweet tomato soup is something my husband associates with canned condensed soup. The ancho chili powder in it gives it a rich smoky depth of flavor and the parmesan adds great salt to it. 

Because it freezes so well, it is a perfect meal train food as well. I’m sure we all know someone going through a difficult time and the best way to help is to make a meal for them. I’ve been seeing a lot of these to sign up for on social media lately because someone has experienced a loss and the grief that comes with that. I have started making this soup and signing up to help others with it. 

This recipe has become a family favorite in my household, and it is sure to become one in your as well! Enjoy! 

Discussion 

Have you tried making this Sensational Easy Tomato and Basil Soup yourself yet? Are you a fan of soups in the fall? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

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