Description
Ina Garten’s cream of fresh tomato soup offers a luxurious blend of ripe tomatoes and rich cream. Garden-fresh ingredients and simple techniques create a comforting classic that delights home cooks with its elegant simplicity.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.8 kg (64 oz) vine-ripened tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 700 ml (23.7 fl oz) chicken stock
- 180 ml (6 fl oz) double cream
- 1½ cups (225 g) chopped red onions
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) good olive oil
- 2 carrots, unpeeled and chopped
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) tomato purée
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) minced garlic
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) sea salt
- ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh basil
- 1½ tsps caster sugar
- 2 tsps freshly ground black pepper
- Croutons, to serve (optional)
- Basil leaves, finely sliced (julienned), for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium flame. Gently caramelize diced onions and carrots for 10 minutes, stirring periodically to develop rich, sweet undertones.
- Aromatic Infusion: Add minced garlic and sauté briefly until its pungent fragrance permeates the vegetable base, enhancing the soup’s depth of flavor.
- Liquid Composition: Combine chopped tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil leaves, chicken broth, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to integrate ingredients and create a harmonious liquid mixture.
- Flavor Development: Simmer uncovered on low heat for 35-40 minutes, allowing tomatoes to break down completely and ingredients to meld into a cohesive, rich base.
- Creamy Transformation: Remove from heat and incorporate heavy cream, blending until the soup achieves a silky, luxurious consistency using an immersion blender or standard blender.
- Finishing Touches: Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to balance flavors. Serve in warmed bowls, garnishing with delicate basil ribbons and optional crispy croutons for textural contrast.
Notes
- Caramelize Vegetables Slowly: Take time to gently cook onions and carrots, developing deep, sweet flavor foundations that enhance the soup’s overall taste profile.
- Handle Hot Liquid Safely: When blending hot soup, use extreme caution to prevent potential burns, always securing blender lid with a towel and blending in small batches.
- Balance Sweetness Strategically: The added sugar helps neutralize tomatoes’ natural acidity, creating a more rounded and harmonious flavor without making the soup overly sweet.
- Texture is Key: Blend thoroughly for a silky-smooth consistency, ensuring no vegetable chunks disrupt the soup’s elegant, creamy presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg