Creamy Tomato Soup

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With the perfect balance of exquisite flavors and a luxuriously creamy texture, this Creamy Tomato Soup recipe is irresistibly delicious and will become a regular favorite!

Be sure to also check out my popular Cream of Celery Soup and Cream of Mushroom Soup!

Homemade Creamy Tomato Soup

I’ve been enjoying a wonderful harvest from my garden throughout the summer and of course few things taste as fantastic as a homegrown vine-ripened tomato.  I’ve been busy making salsa, fresh tomato sauce to serve over pasta and this delicious creamy tomato soup recipe.  My family loves this soup and they’ve already requested it three times in the last two weeks.  We’re confident you’re going to love it as much as we do!

How Do I Get a Perfectly Smooth and Creamy Texture?

Many cream of tomato soups are too thin and watery.  What we’re after is a creamy texture with “body” that leaves a generous coating on the back of the spoon.

The two primary keys for achieving that is to use heavy cream and to use a blender.  Milk is thin and it will curdle and we want both body and smoothness.  For some creamy soups I’ll use a blender stick to blend the soup right inside the pot.  But in this case use an actual blender.   I find that’s really key for getting a smoother, creamy and thicker consistency.  A blender stick will not achieve the same results.  I use my Vitamix and turn it on high for a good 15-20 seconds.

Which Herbs Should I Use For Seasoning?

I like to switch things up occasionally. If you’re going for a more Italian flavor, use basil.  If you’d like more of a French flavor, use thyme.  Rosemary is another fabulous flavor in this soup.  Or go with some fresh oregano or dill.  Another great option for a spicier soup is a generous dose of freshly ground or cracked peppercorns.  Try a variety of herbs/spices and see what you like best.

The Key to Achieving the Best Tomato Soup Flavor

Homemade cream of tomato soup can often be a little, well, bland.  The results depend a greatly on the quality of the tomatoes.  Most of us don’t have access to fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes from the sun-kissed gardens of southern Italy and even if you do, your creamy tomato soup will benefit tremendously from a few flavor boosts we’re going to add to this soup.

While tomatoes are technically a fruit, used in soups and sauces most tomatoes benefit from an additional touch of sweetness to bring out their flavor.  We don’t want it “too” sweet as some recipes have the tendency to be, but just enough to coax out those wonderful flavors.  We’re going to add a touch of brown sugar and also pair the tomatoes with the freshest, sweetest carrots we can find.

Following the proper method of sauteing the onions, carrots and tomatoes before adding the broth also coaxes the natural sugars out of the each of the vegetables for a richer flavor, so don’t skip that step.  For an extra boost of tomato flavor we’re also adding some concentrated tomato paste.

The flavor of this soup is directly dependent on the quality of the produce you use, so use the very best tomatoes and carrots you can find, if possible ones from the farmer’s market that are grown locally in real soil under real sunshine.

I’m partial to fresh tomatoes for making this soup and grow my my own.  (Below are pics of the tomatoes and carrots I harvested from my garden.  Aren’t they gorgeous??)  If you don’t have access to high quality tomatoes from your local farmer’s market then seek out the best canned tomatoes you can find (for the best flavor I highly recommend D.O.P. certified Italian imported San Marzano tomatoes).

Another key element to achieving the best flavor is to use the best quality broth you can find.  If you don’t have the time or space to make your own, choose a good store-bought brand.  My top recommendation for several years now is Aneto because unlike other broth brands on the market that are made using meat and vegetable “extracts” and “powders” along with flavor enhancers like “yeast extract” (a MSG loophole), Aneto is 100% natural and is made with REAL whole vegetables and REAL chicken and is cooked the way you make it in your own kitchen – it’s simmered low and slow in huge pots using real, fresh ingredients.  It’s natural, it’s nutritious and it’s packed with flavor. You can find it on Amazon along with their Low Sodium Chicken Broth.

My husband and I had the rare privilege of touring Aneto’s factory in Barcelona, Spain and we watched the entire process from start to finish, including the staff washing the vegetables before carting them off to the gigantic pots.  It was incredible and thoroughly inspiring.  Take a Virtual Tour of Aneto’s Broth-Making Factory in Spain!

Can I Make This Vegetarian or Vegan?

Absolutely!  For vegetarian you can use vegetable broth (such as Aneto’s 100% Natural Vegetable Broth) and for vegan you can substitute almond milk, cashew milk (it’s a bit creamier) or any other non-dairy milk of your choice.

How To Bulk Up the Soup to Serve as a Main Course 

Want a soup that’s a bit more substantial to serve as a main course?  Simply stir in some cooked rice at the end and you’ll have a delicious cream of tomato rice soup!

Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe

Let’s get started!

Heat the butter and olive oil in a medium stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add the carrots and garlic and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and cook for another 4-5 minutes.  Add the broth.

Reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Carefully transfer soup to a blender and blend until smooth. Return the soup to the pot and add the heavy cream. Heat through and add salt and pepper to taste.

If desired serve with a sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs and if desired some coarsely ground black pepper.

Enjoy!

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet August 24, 2019