Description
This Cafe-Style Tomato Soup is a rich and creamy classic made with a blend of tomato juice, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes, enhanced with fresh herbs and a touch of cayenne for subtle heat. Cooked with butter, garlic, and onions, then pureed to smooth perfection and finished with heavy cream, it delivers a comforting and flavorful bowl that’s perfect for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 64 ounces tomato juice
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 14 ½ ounces diced tomatoes (drained)
- 2 cubes chicken bouillon
- 2 tablespoons white sugar (granulated)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh Herbs
- 6 fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare Aromatics: Chop the yellow onion and garlic cloves finely to prepare for sautéing.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes to release their aroma.
- Add Tomato Base: Pour in the tomato juice, tomato sauce, and the drained diced tomatoes, stirring to combine the base of the soup.
- Season Soup: Add the chicken bouillon cubes, white sugar, and cayenne pepper to the pot. Stir well to dissolve the bouillon and incorporate all the seasonings evenly.
- Add Fresh Herbs and Simmer: Add the fresh basil leaves and cilantro, allowing the soup to cook together for 2-3 minutes so the flavors meld.
- Puree Soup: Use an immersion blender directly in the pot to puree the soup until smooth and creamy in texture.
- Finish with Cream and Season: Stir in the heavy whipping cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat through briefly without boiling, then serve warm.
Notes
- This simple tomato soup uses both tomato sauce and tomato juice to achieve a rich tomato flavor and smooth texture.
- Be sure to drain the diced tomatoes before adding to keep the soup from becoming too watery.
- Using fresh herbs like basil and cilantro adds brightness and freshness to balance the creamy richness.
- The immersion blender allows for easy pureeing without transferring hot soup to a blender.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper to your preferred spice level or omit if sensitive to heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 247 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 472 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg
