Description
This rich, comforting tomato soup is made from scratch using canned tomatoes and topped with crisp, herbed croutons. Perfect for chilly nights, it’s velvety, flavorful, and finished with Parmesan for a satisfying, cozy meal.
Ingredients
- For the Tomato Soup:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
- 2 cups chicken stock (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for topping
- For the Herbed Croutons:
- ¼ of a 12-inch loaf of soft French bread, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add tomatoes with their juice and break them apart slightly. Add stock and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in chopped parsley and basil. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt to taste.
- While the soup simmers, preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss bread cubes with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.
- Serve the soup hot, topped with herbed croutons and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- To make it creamy, stir in ¼ cup heavy cream after blending.
- For extra heat, add crushed red pepper flakes while simmering.
- Make cheesy croutons by tossing bread cubes with grated Parmesan before baking.
- Substitute canned diced tomatoes if needed and blend longer for smoothness.
- Use dried parsley and basil (1 tsp each) if fresh is unavailable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (with croutons)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
