Description
Roasted tomato basil soup brings rich Mediterranean flavors to classic comfort cuisine. Fresh ingredients and simple techniques create a deeply satisfying meal that welcomes you to savor each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs) plum tomatoes, ripe, halved lengthwise
- 1 x 800g (28 oz) tin plum tomatoes, with juice
- 100 g (3.5 oz) fresh basil leaves, packed
- 2 large yellow onions (about 400 g or 14 oz), chopped
- 1 litre (4.2 cups or 33.8 fl oz) chicken stock (or water)
- 90 ml (3 fl oz) olive oil, good-quality, divided
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 30 g (1 oz) unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp sea salt flakes
- 1½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ tsp crushed chilli flakes
Instructions
- Roasting Preparation: Preheat oven to 392°F (200°C) or 356°F (180°C) for fan-assisted ovens. Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil, seasoning generously with sea salt and black pepper.
- Roasting Process: Arrange tomatoes cut-side upward on a baking sheet in a single, uncrowded layer. Roast for 45 minutes until edges caramelize and tomatoes develop a wrinkled, intensely concentrated appearance.
- Aromatic Foundation: Heat stockpot over medium flame. Combine olive oil and butter, then introduce onions, garlic, and chili flakes. Sauté until onions transform into a translucent, golden-hued base, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Liquid Integration: Incorporate canned tomatoes, their natural juices, basil leaves, thyme sprigs, and chicken stock. Add roasted tomatoes with their concentrated pan drippings to the pot.
- Flavor Development: Bring mixture to a robust boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Allow soup to meld and intensify flavors uncovered for 40 minutes, creating a rich, harmonious profile.
- Textural Transformation: Utilize a food mill with its coarsest blade for a rustic texture or an immersion blender for a velvety-smooth consistency. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serving Suggestion: Present the soup piping hot or elegantly chilled, paired with crusty artisan bread or crisp croutons for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Roasting Technique: Caramelize tomatoes at high heat to intensify natural sweetness and develop rich, deep flavor profiles without burning.
- Aromatics Magic: Slowly sauté onions and garlic to create a flavor foundation that enhances the overall soup’s depth and complexity.
- Blending Options: Choose between rustic food mill texture or smooth immersion blender based on personal preference and desired soup consistency.
- Serving Flexibility: Enjoy soup hot or chilled, making it a versatile recipe adaptable to different seasons and meal preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg