How to Make Tomato Soup

Co-authored by Tara Coleman

Tomato soup is a healthy, low-calorie comfort food. It is also a great way to warm up on a rainy day and it goes perfectly with grilled cheese sandwiches or Parmesan crisps. This recipe is for soup made from tomatoes that are roasted, then stewed and pureed.

Ingredients

2 pounds tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 red bell pepper
1 large onion
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
salt and pepper to taste

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Peeling the Tomatoes

1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill the pot about halfway with water, then place it on a burner over high heat and allow it to come to a full boil.
2
Cut an "x" shape into the tomatoes. Use a sharp knife to cut an "x" on the tops or bottoms of the tomatoes. It's not necessary to cut too deep - just pierce the skin. This will make it easy to peel off the skin after the tomatoes have been blanched.

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3
Blanch the tomatoes. Drop a few tomatoes into the boiling water. Let them blanch for about 30 seconds. Remove the tomatoes and place them on a cutting board to cool. Repeat with the remaining tomatoes.
- Don't leave the tomatoes in the water too long. Blanching loosens their skins, but leaving them in the pot for more than 30 seconds will cause them to actually start cooking, which will make them lose their flavor.
- Be careful when removing the tomatoes from the boiling water. The best tools to use are tongs or a large slotted spoon.
4
Peel the tomatoes. Take a cooled tomato and insert your finger under the skin where you cut the "x." Pull on the skin to peel it away in large strips. Continue until all the skin has been removed. Repeat with the remaining tomatoes, and discard the skin.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Roasting the Vegetables

1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2
Cut the vegetables into large slices. Cut up the peeled tomatoes, the bell pepper, and the onion. There's no need to make the slices even or bite-sized, since they will be pureed at a later stage.
- If you wish to seed your tomatoes as well, now is the time.
3
Toss the vegetables with oil. Place the cut vegetables into a large bowl. Add the garlic and the sprigs of thyme. Pour the oil over the vegetables and use two large spoons to toss the ingredients together until all of the vegetables are coated in a thin layer of oil.
4
Place the vegetables on a baking sheet. Spread them evenly so that each piece is touching the baking sheet, which will ensure that they each caramelize a bit. Arrange the thyme sprigs evenly around the vegetables.
5
Roast the vegetables for 30 minutes. Place the baking sheet in the oven and let the vegetables cook. The tomatoes will release a fair amount of juice, which you might hear boiling over the rim of the baking sheet and sizzling in the oven. Let the vegetables keep cooking until the onions are slightly brown on top.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Combining the Vegetables and Stock

1
Transfer the roasted vegetables into a large stockpot. Use a spatula to help you scoop the tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and thyme into the pot. Transfer all the juices, too.
2
Add the stock. Pour the quart of chicken or vegetable stock over the vegetables. If you like thicker tomato soup, you can scale back the stock by 1/2 cup. For thinner soup, add 1/2 cup water to the stock.
3
Season the soup and let it simmer. Taste the soup and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the pot on a burner and turn the heat to medium. Let the flavors simmer together for 30 minutes. Taste the soup again and adjust the seasonings if necessary.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Finishing the Soup

1
Puree the soup. Working in small batches, transfer the soup to a blender. Puree it until it's smooth in consistency. Pour the pureed soup into a separate container, then puree another batch. Continue until the entire pot of soup has been pureed, then transfer it back into the soup pot so you can keep it warm.
- If you like chunks of tomatoes in your soup, reserve half the soup and puree the rest. Combine the unblended soup with the pureed soup in the original soup pot.
- If you have a stick blender, you may find it easier to puree the soup using that rather than transferring it to a standard blender.
2
Serve the soup. Ladle the soup into serving bowls. If desired, garnish it with a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of croutons or cheddar cheese, or simply eat it plain.
- If you're not ready to eat the soup immediately, you can also can the soup and save it for later.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you make tomatoes less acidic?

Tara Coleman
Clinical Nutritionist
Tara Coleman is a Clinical Nutritionist who has a private practice in San Diego, California. With over 15 years of experience, Tara specializes in sports nutrition, body confidence, and immune system health and offers personalized nutrition, corporate wellness, and online learning courses. She received a BS in Biology from James Madison University and spent six years in the pharmaceutical industry as an analytical chemist before founding her practice. Tara has been featured on NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, and Dr. Oz The Good Life as well as in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Self, and Runner’s World.

Tara Coleman

Clinical Nutritionist

Expert Answer

Use baking powder to help cut the acidity. Tomatoes will also become less acidic as they ripen.
Question

Do you take the seeds out of the tomatoes when making tomato soup?

Qamar

Top Answerer

No, that's not necessary. You'll barely notice the seeds in the soup once it's blended and made, and the seeds are not harmful in any way.
Question

Can I also add a bay leaf?

Community Answer

Yes, of course! A bay leaf would be a nice addition.