Classic Tomato Soup Recipe: How to Make Tomato Soup

Traditional tomato soup is a soup with tomato as the main ingredient. Some versions of tomato soup are puréed, while others contain tomato chunks, noodles, and meat. The base of tomato soup is typically tomatoes, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Though it is typically served hot, a variation of tomato soup, gazpacho, is served chilled. While tomato soup is usually gluten-free, some recipes are thickened with puréed bread. You can garnish tomato soup with toppings like balsamic vinegar reduction, chives, Parmesan cheese, or homemade croutons.

To make your tomato soup, follow these simple steps:

1. 1. Prepare your aromatics. Sautée aromatics like yellow onions and minced garlic cloves with tomato paste and unsalted butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. 2. Add the tomatoes. Then, add canned whole tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, or tomato sauce with low-sodium chicken broth, and simmer to meld the flavors together.
3. 3. Purée the soup. Using an immersion blender, purée the soup until smooth and stir in heavy whipping cream, half and half or whole milk over medium-low heat for a rich and creamy soup.
4. 4. Add seasonings. Top the soup with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and toppings like freshly cracked black pepper, torn basil leaves, chives, or Parmesan cheese. You can serve creamy tomato soup with a warm grilled cheese sandwich for the best tomato soup experience.

Make the best tomato soup recipe with these simple tips:

1. 1. Use canned tomatoes. Canned tomatoes are picked at peak season and preserved for freshness, concentrating the flavor. Using canned tomatoes will result in a deeper, richer tomato flavor for your soup. If using fresh tomatoes, try roasting them in olive oil first, as roasted tomatoes will provide more depth of flavor.
2. 2. Make it vegan. Tomato soup can be made entirely plant-based and dairy-free. Instead of chicken stock, opt for vegetable broth. Then, rather than stir in heavy cream, try adding coconut milk, almond milk, or dairy-free cashew cream to your homemade tomato soup. To make your own cashew cream, soak cashews overnight, then drain and rinse. Blend with enough water to make a smooth paste. Season to taste with salt, olive oil, and red pepper. You can add stale bread during simmering for a creamy texture, then top the soup with vegan Parmesan cheese for extra umami. For a dairy-free, nut-free thickener, try simmering diced sweet potato—the starch will make a creamy soup once puréed.
3. 3. Add some sugar. Tomatoes can be slightly acerbic on their own. You can add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity.