Description
Tomato Florentine Soup is a comforting and flavorful Italian-American soup featuring a rich blend of crushed tomatoes, fresh spinach, and tender pasta simmered together with aromatic herbs and a touch of cream. Perfect for a cozy meal, this vegetarian soup is easy to prepare on the stovetop and can be customized with optional ingredients like Parmesan cheese or sausage for added heartiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup small pasta (like ditalini or orzo)
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 4–5 minutes until soft and translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, ensuring it doesn’t brown.
- Combine Base Ingredients: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth, then add sugar, salt, black pepper, dried basil, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer Soup: Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- Cook Pasta: Stir in the small pasta and cook for 8–10 minutes until the pasta is tender but not mushy, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add Spinach: Mix in the roughly chopped fresh baby spinach and cook for another 2–3 minutes until the spinach is wilted and tender.
- Finish with Cream: If using, stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half to add richness and creaminess to the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting Tomato Florentine Soup.
Notes
- For a heartier version, add cooked Italian sausage or white beans for extra protein.
- You can substitute kale for spinach if preferred or use gluten-free pasta for dietary needs.
- This soup stores well in the refrigerator and often tastes even better the next day as flavors deepen.
