Description
This easy tomato soup recipe combines crispy bacon, sautéed aromatics, and rich crushed tomatoes to create a comforting and flavorful soup. Finished with fresh basil and optional heavy cream, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal that serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 3 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
Seasonings and Liquids
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 (28-oz.) cans crushed tomatoes (San Marzano preferred)
- 1 bunch fresh basil (divided)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (no substitutes; optional)
- Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook bacon: Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until browned and fat has rendered, approximately 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the roughly chopped onions, crushed garlic cloves, and chopped carrot to the pot. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the vegetables start to soften and caramelize, about 5-8 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and Italian seasoning over the mixture, stirring well to combine and cook for another minute to remove raw flour taste.
- Add liquids and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and crushed tomatoes, stirring well to incorporate. Add a large stalk of fresh basil, submerging it fully in the liquid. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes if you prefer a thicker consistency, or covered if you want thinner soup.
- Blend: Remove the soup from heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Discard the cooked basil stalk. Blend the soup in batches in a blender designed for hot liquids until smooth and creamy. Return the soup to the pot, stir in the heavy cream if using, and season with salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh basil and a drizzle of heavy cream if desired. Serve hot for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Use San Marzano canned tomatoes for the best depth of flavor.
- Do not substitute heavy cream with milk or other alternatives to maintain soup richness.
- Cooking uncovered thickens the soup, while covering keeps it thinner.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Blend in batches carefully and follow your blender’s instructions for hot liquids to avoid accidents.
