Creamy Tomato Soup Basil (Printable version)

Velvety tomato and basil blend with a touch of cream delivers a comforting warm dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 28 ounces canned whole tomatoes, with juice (or 35 ounces fresh ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped)

→ Liquids

05 - 2 cups vegetable broth
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream

→ Herbs & Seasoning

07 - 1 teaspoon sugar
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped

→ For Serving

12 - Extra basil leaves
13 - Drizzle of extra cream (optional)
14 - Freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add tomatoes with their juice, vegetable broth, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring mixture to a simmer.
04 - Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add basil leaves and puree soup with an immersion blender or in batches using a countertop blender until smooth.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and heat gently for 2 to 3 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with extra basil, a drizzle of cream, and additional pepper if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes restaurant-quality but comes together in less time than you'd expect.
  • The cream transforms the soup into something unexpectedly luxurious without any fussing.
  • You'll find yourself making it again and again because it's genuinely that good.
02 -
  • Never blend hot soup directly in a sealed blender—the steam builds pressure and can pop the lid off. Patience here prevents a mess and a scare.
  • If your soup tastes too acidic even after adding sugar, a pinch more cream or butter will soften it in seconds.
03 -
  • If you're using fresh tomatoes, roasting them first concentrates their flavor and transforms the soup from good into unforgettable.
  • Keep an immersion blender within arm's reach—it makes the final step feel effortless instead of like a project.

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