Tomato and Basil Soup (Printable)

Silky smooth tomato and basil soup, simmered to perfection with garlic and onions, finished with olive oil.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

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

→ Liquids

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

→ Herbs & Seasoning

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

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin 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 and add basil leaves. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until silky smooth, or blend in batches using a countertop blender.
06 - Taste and season with salt and pepper to preference. For enhanced richness, stir in heavy cream if using.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 45 minutes, which means weeknight dinners just became a lot easier.
  • The immersion blender trick gives you a restaurant-quality silkiness without any fuss or mess.
  • One pot, honest ingredients, and the kind of comfort that feels like a warm hug from inside.
02 -
  • Blending hot soup can be dangerous if you're not careful—always let it cool slightly and never fill the blender more than halfway, or use an immersion blender directly in the pot for safer simplicity.
  • The soup tastes even better the next day when flavors have had time to settle and marry together, so don't hesitate to make it ahead and reheat gently.
03 -
  • Season as you go, not all at the end—small tastes throughout cooking help you build layers and catch any imbalances before serving.
  • The cream is optional, but if you use it, add it at the very end so it stays silky and doesn't split or separate in the heat.
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