Description
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is a comforting dish that brings the warmth of home-cooked meals right to your table. This velvety soup combines the rich flavors of fresh tomatoes and fragrant basil, creating a delightful balance that’s perfect for cozy evenings or gatherings with friends. With hidden vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions, this dish is not only delicious but also nutritious. In just 40 minutes, you can whip up this easy tomato basil soup that’s ideal as an appetizer or a hearty main course. Serve it in a bread bowl or pair it with grilled cheese for a classic comfort food experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes (with the juice)
- 2 carrots (finely diced, about 1 cup)
- 1 small onion (finely diced, about 1 cup)
- 3 ribs celery (finely diced, about 1 cup)
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1½ cups half and half (or whole milk)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Sauté diced carrots, onions, and celery until softened.
- Stir in canned diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, oregano, and dried basil. Bring to a gentle boil and cook until vegetables are tender.
- Blend the mixture using an immersion blender until smooth.
- In a separate pot, melt butter and whisk in flour to create a roux until golden brown.
- Incorporate some blended soup into the roux to form a paste; then return it to the main pot.
- Add parmesan cheese, half-and-half, salt, pepper, and fresh basil. Stir and heat through before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 45mg