The Coziest Roasted Tomato Basil Soup Recipe for Chilly Nights

Rich, velvety roasted tomato basil soup refines ordinary ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that warms both body and soul.

Garden-fresh tomatoes caramelize under intense heat, developing deep, complex flavors that dance across your palate.

Mediterranean sunshine seems to infuse each spoonful with vibrant, aromatic notes.

Softened basil leaves release their essential oils, creating an intoxicating fragrance that signals comfort and nourishment.

Complex layers of flavor emerge through careful roasting techniques that concentrate natural sweetness and depth.

Home cooks can easily elevate this classic recipe from simple to spectacular with minimal effort.

Weekend meal planners seeking a sophisticated yet approachable dish will find this soup irresistibly compelling.

Cooking Tips for Smooth, Rich Tomato Soup

• Maximize Flavor Depth: Roast tomatoes longer for an intensely caramelized, sweet taste that elevates the entire soup's complexity.
• Choose Ripe Tomatoes: Select deeply colored, fragrant tomatoes at peak season for the most robust and natural sweetness in your soup.
• Blend Smoothly: Use an immersion blender for a silky texture, avoiding over-blending to prevent a gummy consistency.
• Control Cream Consistency: Add cream gradually and stir gently to achieve your desired richness without breaking the soup's smooth base.
• Crouton Crunch Trick: Watch mini croutons closely while baking to ensure golden edges without burning, providing a perfect crispy topping.

How to Store and Reheat Tomato Basil Soup

• Refrigerate: Transfer the soup to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the container is completely sealed to maintain freshness.
• Freeze: Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving some space at the top. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. Avoid adding cream before freezing to prevent separation.
• Reheat: Warm the soup gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If the soup seems thick, add a splash of chicken stock or water to restore consistency. Stir in fresh cream after reheating to maintain its smooth texture.

Foods That Pair Well with Tomato Soup

• Enhance Soup's Richness with Red Wine: Pour a medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese alongside the roasted tomato basil soup. These wines complement the tomatoes' acidity and bring out deeper flavor notes.
• Create Cheese Companion Plate: Serve a small plate of aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, creamy goat cheese, and soft mozzarella. These cheeses will add complementary textures and enhance the soup's savory profile.
• Craft Perfect Bread Pairing: Select a rustic sourdough or crusty ciabatta bread to accompany the soup. The bread's robust texture and slight tanginess will perfectly balance the soup's creamy consistency and bright tomato flavors.
• Match with Fresh Herbal Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with fresh basil, lemon vinaigrette, and toasted pine nuts. This will provide a crisp, refreshing contrast to the rich, warm soup.

Soup Variations to Try Through the Seasons

• Mediterranean Roasted Pepper Soup: Replace half the tomatoes with roasted red peppers for a smoky, rich flavor profile that adds depth and complexity to the classic recipe.
• Spicy Southwestern Tomato Soup: Incorporate diced jalapeños, add ground cumin, and top with cilantro for a zesty, southwestern-inspired version that brings heat and excitement to the original soup.
• Creamy Vegan Alternative: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream, and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock to create a plant-based option that maintains the soup's smooth, comforting texture.
• Italian Herb Enhanced Soup: Increase the herb blend by adding fresh oregano, a touch of rosemary, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top to elevate the traditional Italian flavors of the roasted tomato soup.

What Makes Roasted Tomato Basil Soup So Warm and Welcoming

• Intensify Tomato Flavor: Roasting tomatoes for an hour concentrates their natural sweetness and deepens the rich, robust flavor profile, creating a more complex and satisfying soup experience.
• Texture Transformation Magic: Blending the roasted tomatoes and ingredients creates a silky, smooth consistency that glides perfectly on the palate, offering a luxurious and comforting mouthfeel.
• Quick Gourmet Upgrade: Simple techniques like roasting tomatoes and making mini croutons elevate this soup from basic to restaurant-quality, allowing home cooks to achieve professional-level results with minimal culinary expertise.

Ingredients to Make a Fresh Tomato Basil Soup

• Tomatoes: Sweet, ripe tomatoes are the star of this soup, providing rich, concentrated flavor when roasted.
• Olive Oil: Helps roast tomatoes evenly and adds a smooth, fruity undertone to the dish.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential for enhancing the natural tomato flavor during roasting.

• Onion: Provides a sweet, aromatic foundation for the soup's depth of flavor.
• Garlic: Adds a pungent, warm note that complements the roasted tomatoes.
• Thyme: Brings a subtle, earthy herb flavor to the soup.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Supports the roasted tomatoes with additional tomato richness.
• Basil: Introduces a fresh, bright herbal note to the soup.
• Sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomatoes, creating a more rounded taste.
• Chicken Stock: Creates a smooth, liquid base that adds depth and complexity.

• Heavy Cream: Adds a luxurious, silky texture and mellows the soup's acidity.
• Bread: Used for making crispy mini croutons as a crunchy topping.
• Garlic: Provides extra flavor to the croutons.
• Basil: Adds an herbal touch to the crouton topping.

How to Roast and Blend for Maximum Flavor

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet

Warm the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Prepare Tomatoes

• Slice tomatoes in half
• Drizzle with olive oil
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Step 3: Roast Tomatoes

Place tomatoes cut-side up on the baking sheet. Roast for 1 hour until edges caramelize and tomatoes look slightly wrinkled.

Step 4: Sauté Aromatics

• Diced onions
• Minced garlic

Cook until onions become translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Step 5: Build Soup Base

• Crushed tomatoes
• Fresh basil leaves
• Sugar
• Thyme

Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 6: Incorporate Roasted Tomatoes

Pour in chicken stock and roasted tomatoes. Simmer for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.

Step 7: Blend Soup

Use an immersion blender to puree soup until smooth. Alternatively, carefully transfer to a blender in batches.

Step 8: Finish Soup

Stir in heavy cream and warm through. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Step 9: Create Mini Croutons

• Cut bread into small cubes
• Toss with olive oil
• Sprinkle with garlic powder
• Add chopped fresh basil

Bake at 400°F for 7 minutes until golden and crispy.

Step 10: Serve and Garnish

Ladle soup into bowls. Top with crispy mini croutons. Enjoy immediately with a fresh basil leaf.

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Roasted tomato basil soup delivers rich Mediterranean flavors with concentrated sweetness from slow-roasted tomatoes. Fresh basil and creamy texture elevate this classic comfort dish you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Roasted Tomatoes:

• 9 Roma tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
• 1 28 ounces (794 grams) can San Marzano tomatoes, crushed
• 1 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped

Aromatics and Seasonings:

• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Fats and Liquids:

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cups chicken stock
• ⅔ cup heavy cream

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Arrange tomato halves on a roasting tray, generously coating with olive oil and seasoning with salt and pepper for enhanced flavor intensity.
2. Roast the tomatoes in a preheated oven at 375°F until they caramelize and develop deep, rich color, approximately one hour.
3. In a large cooking vessel, warm olive oil and sauté diced onions until they become translucent and slightly golden.
4. Introduce minced garlic, thyme, and additional seasonings, allowing the aromatics to release their fragrant essences.
5. Pour crushed tomatoes into the pot, incorporating fresh basil and a touch of sugar to balance the acidity.
6. Gently incorporate roasted tomatoes and chicken stock, allowing the mixture to simmer and meld flavors thoroughly.
7. Use an immersion blender to transform the soup into a smooth, velvety consistency, ensuring no chunks remain.
8. Enrich the soup with a splash of heavy cream, creating a luxurious and silky texture.
9. Craft mini croutons by cubing bread and tossing with olive oil, minced garlic, and fresh basil leaves.
10. Crisp the croutons in a hot oven until they turn golden and crunchy.
11. Ladle the soup into warm bowls and garnish with the freshly prepared herbed croutons, serving immediately for optimal taste and temperature.

Notes

• Roasting tomatoes intensifies their natural sweetness and concentrates the flavor, creating a rich, deep taste profile for the soup.
• Choose ripe, in-season tomatoes for the most vibrant and robust flavor, ensuring a more delicious final result.
• Slow roasting allows the tomatoes to caramelize, developing complex layers of taste that elevate the entire soup’s character.
• Use an immersion blender for easier cleanup and smoother texture, but be careful to blend in a deep pot to prevent splattering.
• Mini croutons add a delightful crunch and provide a textural contrast to the smooth, velvety soup, making each bite more interesting.
• Adjust seasoning to taste, as the salt level can vary depending on the stock and roasted tomatoes used in the recipe.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 295
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 491 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 54 mg