Easy Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Contents

Homemade Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (Better Than Canned)Why Canned Tomatoes Work BestWhat You’ll NeedStep-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Homemade Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (Better Than Canned)

There is nothing quite as comforting as a hot bowl of Creamy Tomato Basil Soup paired with a crispy, melty grilled cheese sandwich. While canned soup is easy, making it from scratch takes only 30 minutes and yields a rich, velvety soup with deep tomato flavor and fresh herbal notes that canned versions simply cannot match.

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Why Canned Tomatoes Work Best

You don’t need fresh summer tomatoes to make amazing tomato soup. High-quality canned whole peeled tomatoes (especially San Marzano tomatoes) are picked and canned at peak ripeness, giving you a sweet, rich flavor year-round. Crushing them down with garlic, onions, and broth creates the perfect base.

What You’ll Need

• Whole Peeled Canned Tomatoes (28 oz): With their juices.
• Unsalted Butter (3 tbsp) & Olive Oil (1 tbsp): The cooking fat.
• Yellow Onion (1 medium) & Garlic (4 cloves): Chopped.
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth (2 cups): To thin the soup.
• Heavy Cream (1/2 cup): For that creamy, velvety finish.
• Fresh Basil Leaves (1/2 cup): Packed and chopped.
• Salt, Pepper, and Sugar (optional, to balance acidity): To taste.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: Melt the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic. Cook for 5-6 minutes until soft and translucent.
2. Simmer Tomatoes: Add the canned tomatoes with their juices, broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes to let the flavors blend.
3. Blend: Remove the pot from the heat. Use an immersion blender (or transfer in batches to a stand blender) and blend until completely smooth and creamy.
4. Add Cream & Basil: Stir in the heavy cream and fresh basil. Taste and add a pinch of sugar if the tomatoes are too acidic. Simmer for 2 minutes.
5. Serve: Ladle into bowls and serve with warm crusty bread or grilled cheese.

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