Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (From Canned Tomatoes)

This creamy tomato soup is easy to make and so warming. This recipe uses canned tomatoes, basil, and aromatics for a delicious meal anytime.

I love it when it is cool enough to make this creamy tomato basil soup because it warms you like no other food can. Homemade tomato soup has nostalgic memories of childhood especially when grilled cheese or cheese crostini is made with it for dipping.

Making a creamy tomato soup is actually very easy and it is completely customizable to your taste. I like making it because it makes a great quick weeknight meal but you can also make this for friends too.

This tomato basil soup utilizes canned tomatoes and chicken stock which are probably already in your pantry so it can be made year round! The irony about making tomato soup is you don't usually want to make soup in the summer when tomatoes are fresh.

This soup is so delicious and I promise, it is easy to make.

What You Will Need

Making a really delicious homemade tomato soup is very easy and requires only a handful of ingredients. Here is what you will need.

1. Canned whole tomatoes. Any variety will do (Italian, plum, whole tomatoes, etc).
2. Fresh Basil.
3. Chicken stock. You can also use vegetable stock if you want to make this dish vegetarian.
4. Kosher salt.
5. Garlic. I love fresh garlic and this is the time to use it.
6. Shallot. There is just a little bit of shallot in this tomato soup recipe. It adds a little background flavor and compliments the garlic.
7. Olive Oil. You can use extra virgin olive oil or regular olive oil for this recipe.
8. Dried Oregano. Optional but it does lend a bit of background flavor.
9. Heavy cream. There is just a touch of heavy cream in this tomato basil soup.

How to make tomato basil soup

This tomato basil soup is so easy and it screams summer with all of the fresh notes of flavor from the garlic, tomatoes, and basil.

1. Prep your ingredients: This is where you dice up the shallot, and garlic and rinse the fresh basil.
2. Cook it up on the stovetop: Sauté your shallots and garlic until soft and then add your chicken stock and canned tomatoes. Don't forget to break up those tomatoes to help them release their juices.
3. Add your seasonings: Oregano, basil, salt and pepper. You can adjust it to taste later on.
4. Simmer: Let it all simmer for a few minutes so the tomatoes and basil along with the garlic have time to impart their flavor.
5. Mix it up in the blender: Add most of the soup to a blender and blend until smooth. If you prefer it extra creamy add all of your soup in batches to the blender and blend until smooth.
6. Add soup back to the pot: Add the tomato basil soup back to the soup pot then add the cream and adjust for any seasoning. It is good to taste for seasoning after the cream is added since cream can add a sweet note.
7. Enjoy!

Pro-Tip: You can double this recipe and have extra for another night. This soup freezes well too.

Variations

Now I like a little texture in my tomato soup so this tomato soup recipe is part creamy and part chunky. If you prefer a totally creamy tomato soup then you can blend all of the soup in your blender in batches until all of it is fully blended and smooth.

You can also add about a half cup more of the heavy cream to make it even creamier and more decadent.

Tips

When you are blending this tomato basil soup in the blender (or any hot liquid), you want to make sure you follow these simple steps for safety:

• Fill the blender only half full with the hot tomato soup. When you blend hot liquids, it expands so it will reach the top of the blender when it is filled halfway.
• Make sure the lid is on tight and cover the lid with a kitchen towel. You do this just in case the hot liquid pushes through an opening in the top of the blender.

If you follow these simple safety steps, you will be on your way to not just blending up this creamy tomato basil soup but any delicious creamy soup you want to make.

Serving Ideas

I like to make a crusty garlic crostini to dip into the soup. If you prefer a side dish to go along with this soup, then this warm radicchio salad would be great.

For more tomato recipes

• Homemade Meatballs and Tomato Sauce
• Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce
• Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa
• Vegetable Soup With Cabbage
• Italian Baked Zucchini
• Easy San Marzano Marinara Sauce