Tomato and Basil Soup (Printable)

Velvety tomatoes blended with fresh basil and aromatic vegetables for a comforting Italian classic.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3.3 lbs ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

04 - 3 cups vegetable broth
05 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

→ Herbs & Seasoning

06 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
07 - 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

09 - 1/4 cup heavy cream or plant-based cream (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
02 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes start to break down.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Add sugar if desired. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat. Add basil leaves. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until silky smooth (or blend in batches in a countertop blender).
06 - Taste and season with salt and pepper. For extra richness, stir in heavy cream if using.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It transforms ordinary tomatoes into something restaurant-worthy with almost zero effort
  • The soup freezes beautifully, so you can stash some away for lazy nights
  • That final basil addition right before blending makes the whole house smell amazing
02 -
  • An immersion blender will change your life, but if you use a regular blender, never fill it more than halfway with hot soup
  • Roasting the tomatoes first at 200°C for 30 minutes adds this incredible depth, but it does take extra time
  • The soup thickens as it cools, so if reheating leftovers, add a splash of water or broth to thin it out
03 -
  • The quality of your tomatoes makes or breaks this recipe, so taste them before you start cooking
  • That final drizzle of olive oil isnt just garnish, it adds essential richness and ties everything together
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