How to Make a Delicious Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Are you looking for a simple yet delicious creamed tomato soup that warms your soul on cold days? This creamy tomato basil soup is perfect for any season but especially delightful during the winter months. With only a handful of ingredients and less than 30 minutes in the kitchen, you can easily prepare this soup at home.

This recipe yields about four servings and takes approximately 25 minutes to prepare from start to finish. Here’s how you can make it:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 4 cups of fresh tomatoes (or canned), peeled and chopped
• 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A dash of sugar, optional for balancing acidity
• Half a cup of heavy cream (or half-and-half)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Base.

1. Heat up olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add minced garlic to the pot; cook for another minute or until fragrant.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients.

3. Stir in peeled tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, and dried basil. Allow the mixture to simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until all ingredients blend well together.
4. If you prefer your soup smooth, use a blender or immersion blender to puree half of the soup back into the pot; this will give it that extra creamy texture we love in soups like these.
5. Season with salt and pepper. If needed, add a tiny bit of sugar to balance out any acidity from the tomatoes.

Step 3: Final Touches.

5. Gently fold in half-cup heavy cream or half-and-half into your soup mixture. Stir until well combined but do not let it boil, as boiling may curdle the cream.
6. Serve hot and garnished with extra fresh basil leaves if desired.

Tips for Perfect Soup

• For added flavor complexity, consider adding a few herbs such as thyme or oregano during cooking time. These can enhance both the base layer of your soup and its overall taste profile.
• To make it richer without increasing calorie content too much, you could try using evaporated milk instead of heavy cream – it's lighter yet still adds great richness to soups like these.
• If you have some fresh herbs available at home, adding them right before serving can give your soup an extra burst of freshness that pairs well with the creamy base.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Calories: ~300 kcal; Protein: ~10g; Carbohydrates: ~35g; Fat: ~14g; Fiber: ~6g

Creamy tomato basil soup is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as part of a main course or served alongside some crusty bread for an appetizer. It's also a fantastic candidate for leftovers, making it great to prepare in bulk when you're short on time during the week.