Homemade Tomato Soup Recipe Made With Fresh Tomatoes

While canned tomato soup is easy and convenient, there’s simply no comparison to the robust, authentic taste of homemade tomato soup made with fresh tomatoes. Whether you’re growing your own or picking up a bunch from your local farmer’s market or grocery store, the difference in taste between fresh and canned is huge.

The natural sweetness and unique taste of garden-ripened tomatoes gives the soup amazing flavor that no canned variety can replicate. Best of all it is a simple and easy recipe to make.

Combine the tomatoes with a few other common ingredients and within 30 minutes your soup will be ready to eat. Pour it into a bowl and serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich and you have a classic comfort food meal.

Why Make Homemade Tomato Soup

Although it is easy to pick up a can of soup from the local grocery, or even to order it as a take out item at your favorite lunch restaurant, there are many reasons why you should make your own homemade tomato soup.

1. More Flavor

Homemade tomato soup is simply more delicious than store-bought or restaurant soup. This is because you can control the quality of the ingredients, the cooking process, and the seasonings that you add.

Depending on the variety of tomatoes, and the herbs and spices that you use the tomato soup will take on a completely different flavor than what you are stuck with if you had to purchase it.

2. Healthier

Because you can control the amount of salt, sugar, and fat in your homemade soup, it is much healthier for you. In addition, you won’t be adding preservatives to the mix which are often hidden inside the cans of soup at the store.

3. More Affordable

Although a can of soup at the grocery store is fairly inexpensive, purchasing it at a restaurant can be costly. However when you make it yourself it can be much more affordable.

This is especially true if you are using ingredients that you already have on hand.

4. More Versatile

Homemade tomato soup can be made and enjoyed in a variety of ways. For example, if you find yourself with a lot of leftover cherry tomatoes at the end of garden season, you can use them to make the soup.

This will give you a completely different flavor profile than if you used Oxheart tomatoes, Aunt Ruby’s German Green, Brandywine, or any other variety of tomato.

In addition, you can switch up the seasonings that you use each time that you make it. During garden season if you have fresh basil, use that instead of dry seasonings for a slightly different taste and texture.

Then if you are wanting a more filling and heartier meal, turn your homemade tomato soup into a creamy version by adding heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Then serve it with croutons and grilled cheese and you will enjoying a meal that will keep you feeling full for hours.

Steps For Making Homemade Tomato Soup

Making homemade tomato soup is a simple and easy process and it only requires a few basic ingredients. Although the basic recipe includes fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, broth and a few seasonings, you can certainly add a variety of other ingredients if you prefer.

However the basic steps for making homemade tomato soup will remain the same.

• Core and dice the tomatoes (no need to peel them).
• Saute the onions and garlic.
• Add the diced tomatoes, broth and seasonings to the pot.
• Bring the soup to a boil and let it simmer.
• Puree the soup with an immersion blender, high powered blender or food processor.
• Return the soup to the pot and heat one final time.
• Optional: Add heavy cream and/or Parmesan cheese and continue to heat until the soup is smooth.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Tomato Soup

In order to get the best tasting tomato soup be sure to follow the tips listed below.

• Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes. The better the quality of your tomatoes, the better your soup will taste.
• Use a good quality broth. The broth you use will make a big difference in the flavor of your soup.
• Season your soup to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices to your soup until it tastes perfect to you.
• If you have the time, do yourself a favor and roast the tomatoes before adding them to the soup. Roasting your tomatoes will caramelize their sugars and deepen their flavor.

How To Roast Tomatoes

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil or a silicone baking mat.
3. Cut the tomatoes in half and place them on the baking sheet, cut side up.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
5. Roast the tomatoes for 30-40 minutes, or until they are softened and just starting to brown.
6. Add them to the pot as instructed below.

Serving Suggestions for Homemade Tomato Soup

Homemade tomato soup can be served as a main course or as an appetizer. If you are serving it as a main course, be sure to pair it with other ingrediennts, such as grilled cheese sandwiches, croutons, or a salad. If you are serving it as an appetizer, you can serve it in small bowls or even small cups or shot glasses.

Here are a few ideas for side dishes to serve with homemade tomato soup:

• Grilled cheese sandwiches
• Croutons
• Salad
• Breadsticks
• Garlic rolls
• Cornbread
• Rice
• Pasta

Homemade Tomato Soup Recipe

* Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to read the entire article for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 pounds ripe tomatoes, (approximately 8 medium size tomatoes)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Optional Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

Prepare the tomatoes by washing them and removing the core. Then cut them into 1 inch chunks. *There is no need to peel or remove the seeds because you will puree the soup before serving it.

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and continue to saute stirring constantly for 1 minute or until fragrant. Then add the tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil to the pot. 

Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft.

Puree the soup with an immersion blender or food processor until it is smooth. You can also use a blender to puree the soup, however work in batches to be sure that the blender is never more than half full.

Return the soup to the pot and heat it through. Add heavy cream and/or Parmesan cheese if desired.

Garnish with fresh basil leaves and shaved Parmesan and serve with croutons or a grilled cheese sandwich.

ENJOY!