Tomato and Basil Soup (Printable)

Silky tomato and basil soup with aromatic olive oil drizzle. Ready in 40 minutes for comforting meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3.3 lb ripe tomatoes, chopped
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

04 - 3 cups vegetable stock
05 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

→ Herbs & Seasoning

06 - 1 small bunch fresh basil leaves, picked
07 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
08 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon sugar, optional

→ Garnish

10 - Fresh basil leaves for serving
11 - Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent browning.
03 - Stir in chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes until tomatoes soften and release their natural juices.
04 - Add vegetable stock, salt, pepper, and sugar if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes.
05 - Add fresh basil leaves, reserving several for garnish. Blend soup using an immersion blender until smooth and silky, or transfer in batches to a blender.
06 - Taste soup and adjust salt, pepper, and sugar as needed to balance flavors.
07 - Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top with reserved fresh basil leaves and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The silky texture comes from properly reducing the tomatoes before blending, something I discovered after three failed batches that tasted watery and disappointing.
  • This soup actually tastes better the next day when all the flavors have had time to get cozy with each other, making it perfect for meal prep when life gets chaotic.
02 -
  • Never blend hot soup in a regular blender with the lid completely sealed, or youll have an explosive mess to clean up, a lesson I learned the painful way.
  • The color of your soup will be much more vibrant if you dont overcook the tomatoes after blending, another five minutes is all it needs.
03 -
  • Save those tomato cores and seeds in a separate container while prepping, simmer them in the stock for 10 minutes, then strain before adding to the soup for an even more intense tomato flavor.
  • Finishing with a tiny drizzle of really good balsamic vinegar creates an amazing sweet-acidic counterpoint that elevates the entire dish.
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