Description
A comforting and flavorful roasted tomato soup made by roasting ripe tomatoes, garlic, and onions before simmering with herbs and vegetable broth. Finished with a touch of balsamic vinegar, sugar, and optional cream for a rich, velvety texture, this soup is perfect for cozy meals and can be garnished with fresh basil for an aromatic touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 pounds of ripe tomatoes, halved
- 6 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 1 medium red onion, quartered
Seasonings & Liquids
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
Optional
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting the vegetables.
- Prepare vegetables: Place the halved tomatoes, peeled garlic cloves, and quartered red onion on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper to season.
- Roast vegetables: Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the tomatoes become soft and slightly caramelized, enhancing their natural sweetness.
- Cool roasted vegetables: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the vegetables to cool slightly, making them easier to handle.
- Combine in a pot: Transfer the roasted tomatoes, garlic, and onion into a large pot. Add the vegetable broth along with dried thyme and dried basil to infuse aromatic flavors.
- Simmer the soup: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld fully.
- Puree the soup: Using an immersion blender, carefully blend the soup until smooth. Alternatively, transfer in batches to a blender and puree until velvety.
- Add vinegar and sugar: Return the blended soup to the pot if needed, then stir in balsamic vinegar and sugar to balance and deepen the flavor. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Add cream (optional): For a creamier texture, stir in the heavy cream to enrich the soup.
- Heat through: Warm the soup for an additional 5 minutes to ensure all ingredients are heated through evenly.
- Serve and garnish: Serve the hot soup garnished with fresh basil leaves for an aromatic and fresh finish.
Notes
- Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best taste.
- The heavy cream is optional and can be omitted for a lighter soup.
- You can substitute vegetable broth with chicken broth if preferred.
- Adjust balsamic vinegar and sugar to balance acidity and sweetness based on your taste.
- To make the soup vegan, omit the cream or use a plant-based alternative.
- Leftover soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
