Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (2024)

Seasonal fresh tomatoes and carrots are gracing all our farmer’s markets.

Bright light to announce that spring is almost here.

At least on my side of the country.

The tomatoes and carrots give this soup such a beautiful color. You will love this classic tomato soup recipe—creamy tomato soup yet very light.

Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (1)

You can enjoy it alone or pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich.

Simple and easy to make, it makes a sophisticated starter for any dinner.

We are bringing back the nostalgia of this combination. But then tomatoes are fruits, and they are wonderful companions to cheese.

Their sweet acidity plays off with the richness of the dairy.

In this Article

  • Origins of tomato soup.
  • Where did grilled cheese and tomato soup originate?
  • Grilled cheeses are very personal.
  • Here are a few helpful tips for the ingredients needed to make this homemade tomato soup.
  • Equipment you will need
  • Cooking tips and step by step to make this wonderful Tomato Soup
  • Tips for a great Grilled Cheese
  • Suggestions and substitutions
  • If you enjoy this recipe, check out these flavorful recipes:
  • Tomato Soup
Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (2)

Origins of tomato soup.

It originated in the region of Andalucia in southern Spain. Gazpacho is widely consumed in Spanish cuisine as well as in Portugal.

in 1897, Joseph Campbell came out with condensed tomato soup by reducing water in the tin, which made it easy and lowered costs for storage and shipping.

Where did grilled cheese and tomato soup originate?

The combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese has been around since WWII when feeding hungry seamen.

School lunch programs, after WWII, were added to the menu because of the added vitamin C that it provides.

They are full of flavor and a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, vitamin K, fiber, beta-carotene, and antioxidants. In a nutshell: a very healthy recipe for all of us.

Grilled cheeses are very personal.

Here I have prepared the authentic way with cheddar cheese. We also had it by substituting the cheddar with Swiss and Havarti.

Super delicious and my favorite way to enjoy it. Have fun with the grilled cheese, and use what you have at home.

A quick note: grilled cheese was first introduced in the early 1900s.

I use fresh white bread. Spread butter on both sides of the bread. I am very generous with the cheese. After all, you want a stringy, gooey melted cheese that tastes heavenly once you bite into.

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Here are a few helpful tips for the ingredients needed to make this homemade tomato soup.

You can find the printable recipe with all the correct ingredient amounts at the bottom of thispost.This is just a quick introduction. Please read the full recipe instructions.

Fresh tomatoes: The star of this dish. Please make sure they are ripe and with no blemishes. Use fresh tomatoes, as the flavor is unbelievable. I have made it with canned, and although good, the savory flavor of the fresh tomatoes is unbeatable.

Saffron: I added saffron to give it that extra boost of flavor. Not only it adds a savory, spicy undertone to your soup, but it also adds that beautiful red-orange color.

Carrots and onions: Add the extra richness in flavor to your soup and balance the acidity of the tomatoes once cooking.

Chicken stock: I always use sodium free. A rich homemade will enhance this tomato soup recipe.

Heavy Cream: Thicken this wonderful soul and plays beautifully with the tomatoes and saffron.

Egg yolk: Add extra texture and flavor to the soup.

French country bread: I love the crispiness of it when you use it for grilled cheese.

Unsalted butter: preferred as it will not add extra salt to your cooking.

Cheddar cheese: Use a good sharp cheddar.

Equipment you will need

I only recommend what I use and love. To achieve this recipe, I used the following:

Le Creuset enamel cast iron Dutch oven saucepan

Food processor & Blender

Tomato peeler

Ladle

Large skillet or griddle

Knife

A Chef Giangi Pick

Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (4)

Vitamix Ascent 3500 & Food Processor Bundle Brushed Stainless Steel

$799.90

I LOVE mine! Use it all the time for most cooking applications.

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02/18/2024 05:45 pm GMT

Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (5)

Cooking tips and step by step to make this wonderful Tomato Soup

To help me keep the prep work short, I used my food processor. We all should have a small one for that kind of work; my favorite cannot live without it here.

After a couple of seconds of chopping, the onions and carrots are all the perfect size. Time-saving on a busy night.

  • Remove all the seedlings from the tomatoes and peel them. I own this fantastic tomato peeler I resisted buying for years, and once in my hands, I wonder why I waited so long to get it.
  • Use a heavy bottom Dutch oven pan and saute the carrots and onions. Stir so they will not burn.
  • Add water to the carrot-onion mixture and simmer to soften the carrots.
  • Add the tomatoes, garlic, thyme, saffron strands, salt and pepper, and chicken stock to the carrots and onion mixture and cook covered. All the ingredients will marry well.
  • Have your blender handy to use as soon as your tomatoes are cooked.
  • Puree all the tomatoes content. You may have to do it in batches.
  • The cream and egg can be omitted if you want a lighter soup. However, add some stock or water to thin out the soup.
  • Always temper your egg mixture with some hot soup separately before adding it to the saucepan. This will prevent separation.
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Tips for a great Grilled Cheese

As French, butter is our middle name; therefore, we use it in and with any food.

I butter both sides of the bread. Of course, you can omit the side where you will place your cheese. But do try it my way. You will love the gooey ooey of the cheese.

I always start with high heat to get the bread with a nice crust.

As soon as I add the cheese to my bread, I lower the heat.

This will allow the cheese to melt beautifully and the bread not to burn.

Suggestions and substitutions

You can enjoy this excellent soup with some croutons or go the extra mile and prepare a fantastic grilled cheese sandwich that you can dip into or, better yet, cut into small cubes and enjoy alongside.

The soup is equally good without the egg yolks and cream if you want to be on the lighter side, thin the soup with more chicken stock or water.

Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (7)

If you enjoy this recipe, check out these flavorful recipes:

Italian Wedding Soup

Asparagus Soup with Caramelized Leeks

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Canederli Soup

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Tomato Soup

5 from 16 votes

Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (9)

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Author: Giangi Townsend

The tomatoes and carrots give this soup such a beautiful color. You will love this classic tomato soup recipe—creamy tomato soup yet very light.

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
  • 8 ounces carrots, peeled and diced (use chop setting on food processor)
  • 2 onions, peeled and diced
  • 5 tablespoons water
  • 4 ½ cups chicken stock
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • saffron, pinch
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ cup heavy cream
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 thyme

Grilled Cheese

  • 12 slices French country bread
  • butter
  • 24 slices cheddar cheese

Instructions

SOUP

  • Melt butter and olive oil in a large Le Creuset enamel cast iron Dutch oven saucepan. Add the onions and carrots and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add water, simmer for 15 minutes covered until the carrots are tender.

  • Add tomatoes, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper, saffron, and chicken stock, and bring to a boil gently. Turn down the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, covered.

  • Allow mixture to cool off a bit, then puree in a blender. (you may have to do it in batches)

  • Pour soup into a clean saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

  • Whip the egg yolks in a small bowl. Stir some of the hot mixtures into the bowl to temper the eggs, gently blend this mixture back into the soup. Stir well, do not boil or the mixture will separate. Check to season and garnish, optional, with chives, thyme or parsley chopped fine.

GRILLED CHEESE

  • Slightly butter each slice of bread with butter. Over 6 slices of bread add 2 slices of cheddar cheese. Cover with the other half of the bread.

  • Heat over high heat a large skillet – or griddle. Add some butter and place your bread over it. Lower the heat and turn the grilled cheese over one the cheese starts to melt, and the bread turns a light golden brown. Grill the other side for a couple of minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 673kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 33g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 238mg | Sodium: 1907mg | Potassium: 494mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 8157IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 570mg | Iron: 1mg

Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.

  • Course: Classics, Soups, Dinners
  • Cuisine: American
  • Season: Spring, Summer
  • Type: Affordable Gourmet

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @giangiskitchen on Instagram

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Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (10)

Please read my privacy policy for more info. I only recommend the products that I love and use. This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Originally published on April 1, 2021. Updated on January 16, 2023.

Tomato Soup - The Best Classic Creamy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between creamy tomato soup and regular tomato soup? ›

But what about cream of tomato soup? Any “cream of” soup, tomato included, is pureed like a normal soup but then goes through a “creaming” process, wherein cream is added to the mixture. Cream of tomato soup is actually cooked at a much lower temperature than normal tomato soup.

What can I put in tomato soup to make it better? ›

10 Simple Ingredients to Add to Tomato Soup
  1. 1) Fresh Rosemary. Kicking off the list is the simplest way to jazz up your tomato soup – fresh herbs. ...
  2. 2) Sauteed Onions. ...
  3. 3) Crispy Bacon. ...
  4. 4) Cream. ...
  5. 5) Chutney. ...
  6. 6) Melted Cheese. ...
  7. 7) Tinned Anchovies. ...
  8. 8) Toasted Pine Nuts.
Mar 21, 2022

How do you thicken creamy tomato soup? ›

Start by using 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. More cornstarch slurry can be added, but be sure not to add too much. Only mix in a small amount of slurry at a time to ensure that your soup will thicken properly. Using corn starch is a fast, effective way to thicken soup.

Why do you put baking soda in tomato soup? ›

When you add baking soda to tomato soup (or sauce, or chili), it neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes. Not only will this make the tomatoes taste less acidic (good news if your tomatoes turned out more sour than you expected), but it also means that you can now add milk to your soup without risking curdling it.

Is tomato bisque the same as cream of tomato soup? ›

While both are delicious, they are quite different, especially when it comes to the texture. Tomato bisque is thicker and creamier in texture, and calls for the use of milk and/or cream.

Is tomato soup better with milk or water? ›

You can use either depending on your taste. Water is perfectly fine but using milk will make the end product much richer. With most brands, you can use either option. Milk makes the tomato soup creamier, and it tastes better, that way.

How do you doctor up tomato soup? ›

Add a can of diced tomatoes, a bit of cream, and torn fresh basil leaves. Swirl some red wine vinegar into the soup and serve with a stack of mozzarella and fresh basil leaves on a toasted baguette. Add a drizzle of pesto (homemade or store bought) and finish with toasted pine nuts and croutons.

What happens when milk is added to tomato soup? ›

Tomatoes are very acidic and milk or cream is added to them, curdling can occur. Curdling will be more likely to happen when the ratio of acid to cream increases or when mixing a cold and hot mixture. To thwart the curdling tendency, changing procedures will render a smooth tomato soup.

Why does my tomato soup have no flavor? ›

This tip comes from food science. Add a small spoonful of sugar to enhance the natural sweetness of the tomatoes. Season with salt in all of the steps (starting with the sauteed onions). This ensures your tomato soup is never bland.

Can you add cream to tomato soup without curdling? ›

Can you add cream to tomato sauce without curdling? Yes it is a delicious combination. Best to mix cold and then add heat.

How to add more flavor to tomato soup? ›

This probably isn't a surprise, as basil and tomatoes are a delicious duo. But think beyond basil — rosemary and thyme can add earthiness; chives and parsley showered on top add a fresh finish; even freshly chopped mint (maybe with some feta cheese) can add a refreshing pop of flavor to every spoonful.

Why did my cream curdle in my tomato soup? ›

If your sauce or soup contains an acidic ingredient like wine, tomatoes, or lemon juice, the milk is more likely to curdle.

What does adding sugar to tomato soup do? ›

It can also reduce the acidity of the soup, making it more palatable to those with sensitive stomachs. Additionally, sugar can act as a preservative, helping to keep the soup fresher for longer. However, it is important to note that adding sugar to tomato soup can also lead to some potential adverse health effects.

Are you supposed to put milk in tomato soup? ›

To 'smooth ' the taste of tomato soup, add a pinch of sugar to lesson the acidity. Milk or a swirl of cream can also be added for a richer flavour.

How to jazz up tin tomato soup? ›

Mix-ins and additions
  1. Top the finished bowls off with a bit of fresh grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
  2. Add about ½ can of diced tomatoes for a chunkier soup.
  3. Try all half and half instead of half cream and half milk.
  4. Add a bit of crushed red pepper flakes for some kick.
Jan 27, 2023

What is cream of tomato soup made of? ›

Simple and satisfying, our creamy tomato soup is a lesson in how easy yet delicious home cooking can be. The recipe is adapted from the book Martha Stewart's Cooking School and it's made with five ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen: butter, onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, and stock or water.

Can I use cream of tomato soup instead of tomato sauce? ›

Although it is likely to change the flavor profile more than other substitutes, tomato soup can work as a tomato sauce substitute. A can of tomato soup can replace 1 cup of tomato sauce. However, because the soup has more liquid than tomato sauce, you should reduce another liquid ingredient by 1/4 cup if possible.

What's the difference between Campbell's tomato soup and Campbell's tomato bisque? ›

Although tomato bisque is technically a soup, several clear-cut differences separate the two, the most apparent being the ingredients. The critical components for making tomato soup are tomatoes and either chicken or vegetable stock, while tomato bisque adds heavy cream to these ingredients.

What's the difference between Campbell's tomato soup and tomato sauce? ›

Tomato soup tends to be sweeter and more liquidy than tomato sauce, so it's not a perfect 1:1 substitute. We'd avoid using tomato soup for something like pasta sauce, but it can definitely add a nice tomato-y flavor to recipes like this One Pot Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup, or these Cheesy Baked Beans and Tomatoes.

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