On a chilly day, the best way to warm up is with some homemade grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. You pull out the bread, butter, cheese, and a can of tomato soup. But wouldn't it be nice to make your own tomato soup, with all the spices you would want? Maybe you like your soup spicier, creamier, soupier, with sour cream, with chicken broth instead of vegetable broth. Who knows? It's up to you, so here is a basic, classic tomato soup recipe where you can mix and match, add or subtract whatever ingredients your heart desires.
INGREDIENTS
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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 medium yellow onion, chopped
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½ teaspoon fine sea salt
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2 tablespoons tomato paste
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1 large can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes, with their liquid
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2 cups vegetable broth
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½ cup cooked beans, rinsed and drained
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into a few pieces
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1 teaspoon coconut sugar or brown sugar, to taste
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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For the tomato-basil variation (optional): 10 to 15 fresh basil leaves, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
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In a Dutch oven or soup pot, warm the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender and turning translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
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Add the tomatoes and vegetable broth and stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes, reducing the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, and stirring occasionally.
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Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender, being sure not to fill past the maximum fill line (blend in batches if necessary). Add the beans, butter, sugar, and several twists of black pepper. Securely fasten the lid and blend the soup until smooth, being careful to avoid hot steam escaping from the lid.
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Since canned tomatoes vary in flavor, I always end up tinkering with this soup a bit at the end. Taste and, if necessary, add a little more sugar (to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes), pepper, and salt (I usually add another ¼ to ½ teaspoon).
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If you’re adding basil, add it now. Briefly blend again, and serve hot. This soup keeps well for up to four days or so. You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
We highly recommend the Le Creuset 3.5 Qt. Soup Pot for cooking your tomato soup, and more soups in the future! This item is the ideal cookware for stovetop simmering. Excellent for preparing a garden vegetable blend in chicken stock or slowly building a rich cream base for broccoli and cheese soup. The Soup Pot's unique curved sides make stirring more efficient and effective by promoting the natural movement of heated liquid after the lid is in place. The soup pot's loop handles provide a steady grip when transferring a full pot from the stovetop to the table.
