Description
Hearty Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup blends Mediterranean warmth with silky richness, inviting comfort in each spoonful. Rustic ingredients meld together, delivering a soul-warming experience that connects home cooks with classic culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ripe tomatoes, halved
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 head garlic, halved horizontally
- 1 large onion, quartered
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or cream alternative)
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Carefully position the oven rack to the middle position and heat to 400F (200C) for optimal roasting.
- Spread whole tomatoes, halved garlic, and quartered onion across a rimmed baking sheet, ensuring vegetables are not overcrowded.
- Generously drizzle olive oil over the vegetables, then sprinkle with salt and freshly cracked black pepper for enhanced flavor profiles.
- Roast the vegetables for 35-40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through to ensure even caramelization and deep, rich color.
- Remove the roasted vegetables from the oven and transfer them directly into a large cooking pot, allowing the intense flavors to concentrate.
- Gently squeeze the roasted garlic cloves, releasing their soft, mellow essence directly into the pot with the other vegetables.
- Pour vegetable broth over the roasted vegetables, creating a liquid base that will help blend the ingredients smoothly.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld together for approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Utilize an immersion blender to puree the soup until completely smooth and creamy, eliminating any chunky textures.
- Slowly incorporate heavy cream, stirring continuously to create a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Taste and refine the seasoning, potentially adding a pinch of sugar to balance the tomatoes’ acidity if needed.
- Ladle the hot soup into serving bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves for a vibrant, aromatic finish.
Notes
- Roasting intensifies the natural sweetness of tomatoes and garlic, creating a deeper, more complex flavor profile for the soup.
- Use ripe, in-season tomatoes for maximum flavor and natural sweetness, which reduces the need for added sugar.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk to create a dairy-free or lower-fat alternative.
- Customize the soup’s texture by adjusting the blending time – longer blending creates a silkier consistency, while shorter blending leaves more vegetable chunks for added texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 124 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg