Tomato basil soup is a great way to use up fresh tomatoes and basil in an easy vegan soup! Chill it then serve this tomato soup gazpacho style or warm with gluten free grilled cheese or bread and the crowd will go wild!
This really is the BEST tomato basil soup recipe! My kids just gobble this up plant-based soup every time we make it!
Growing up Italian it was ingrained in us to like juicy plump tomatoes and soups. Every meal at my grandparents house consisted of homemade marinara sauce bathed over lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs with a side of Italian sausage. Dinner, always a 4 course meal with Italian wedding soup served first, then followed by a salad, the main course and dessert. My family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all gathering around the oblong wooden table in a pasta-aroma filled dining room adjacent to the kitchen.
We would sit there for 3-4 hours enjoying each other’s company and relishing over a tomato based meal. Just us. Just family. Just togetherness. I appreciate that much more now as an adult.
Fast forward a few years to high school, my mom used to take us to a restaurant called Brio’s in Virginia. My siblings, mom and I all loved to get their creamy tomato basil soup that was served with a fresh loaf of baguette. Tomatoes simmered with basil and garlic go so well together – our mouths were singing for joy!
Push the fast forward button one more time to the future and I am now making that delicious tomato soup to my family, which happens to be our all time favorite soup recipe.
Tomato Basil Soup Recipe
The base of this tomato soup recipe starts from my grandmother’s homemade marinara sauce recipe: tomatoes, basil, garlic, onion and olive oil. It is also similar to a Tuscan tomato soup in that it has carrots added as well.
Tomato basil soup can be served hot or cold (Gazpacho, of Spanish origin) but I prefer to eat soup hot. To me, heated soup brings out more flavors and fragrances that enhance the overall foodie experience. Tomato soup can also be made smooth or chunky, so if you prefer the chunky version, just pulse the ingredients together lightly in the blender.
How to Make Tomato and Basil Soup
To start, slice fresh Roma or Vine tomatoes (from your garden- fresh and seasonal makes this taste best!) in half then place them in a large pot. You can also use about 2 pounds of grape tomatoes- they are super sweet and scrumptious too! Next up, add garlic, basil, olive oil, carrots, onion, vegetable broth, salt and pepper. Simmer on low for about 45 minutes to 1 hour covered. After an hour turn off the stove to let the tomato basil soup cool for a bit. Then puree with a blender ( I love my Vitamix for this) until smooth and creamy.
Professional Tip: With any food, it is important to use the best and freshest ingredients. Otherwise you may have a masterpiece that turns out with too much salt trying to “bring out the flavor”. Fresh tomatoes and herbs are a powerful way to bring out THE BEST flavors in this tomato basil soup.
Enjoy this tomato soup any time of the year, especially at a summer gathering when tomatoes are at their ripest. My kids just adore this easy tomato basil soup and usually ask for seconds. It is a winning recipe from our home to yours!
More tomato recipes to enjoy:
- Pizza Stew
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Mushroom Zucchini Tomato Vegetable Soup
- Hearty Vegetable Soup
- Plum Habanero Salsa
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