Homemade Creamy Fresh Tomato Soup
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Love tomato soup, but tired of the canned variety? Make up a homemade batch from simple and healthy ingredients. It's easy!
Author:
Recipe type: Soup
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1½ cups onion, roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, trimmed and roughly chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
  • 4-5 pounds of fresh tomatoes, or any combination of fresh and canned(with juices)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 Tablespoons dried basil leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 Tablespoon salt or salt substitute (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
  • 3 cups reduced sodium chicken stock
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup whole or 2% milk
Instructions
  1. In a large heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
  2. Add onions, carrots, and red pepper. Reduce heat to medium. Put a lid on the pot, and allow the vegetables to steam for 10 minutes until they're soft.
  3. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper, basil and bay leaf. Stir and saute for one minute.
  4. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir.
  5. Add chicken stock. Stir. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer.
  6. Cook for 30-40 minutes.
  7. In small batches (3-4), use a blender to liquefy the soup. Pour the liquefied soup into a large bowl until everything is blended.
  8. (CAUTION: The contents are hot. When blending anything hot, always cover the blender jar top with a kitchen towel. If you use the blender lid, the heat generated as you're blending will blow the lid off and you'll have hot tomato soup all over you and your kitchen. Not good.
  9. OR use an immersion blender.
  10. Pour the soup from the bowl into your cooking pot. Add the heavy cream and milk. Over medium heat, bring the soup to temperature.
  11. Check for seasoning.
  12. Finish soup with a Tablespoon of unsalted butter to add some sheen. (Optional)
  13. Serve
Notes
Accouterments: Oyster Crackers, Croutons, Any sandwich especially Grilled Cheese, Garlic Bread, Hot Rolls, Cornbread.

Garnish with a dollop of Sour Cream, a sprinkling of Grated Cheddar Cheese, or finely Chopped Basil.

If you want a creamier soup, add more heavy cream and less milk. Or you could use half-n-half instead.
at mimi's table fall logo 2017 At Mimi's Table
Recipe by At Mimi's Table at https://atmimistable.com/homemade-creamy-fresh-tomato-soup/