Description
A comforting and easy-to-make tomato soup featuring crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and fresh basil, blended to a smooth consistency and optionally enriched with heavy cream. Perfect for a cozy meal in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 3 slices bacon, chopped
Vegetables & Aromatics:
- 2 medium yellow onions, roughly chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 bunch fresh basil (divided)
Pantry & Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 (28-oz.) cans crushed tomatoes (San Marzano preferred)
- Salt & cracked black pepper, to taste
Dairy (Optional):
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (no substitutes!)
Instructions
- Cook bacon: Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until browned and the fat has rendered, creating a flavorful base for the soup.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the roughly chopped onions, crushed garlic, and chopped carrot to the pot. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the vegetables are soft and beginning to caramelize, about 5-8 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and Italian seasoning over the mixture, stirring well to combine and create a slight roux.
- Add liquids and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and crushed tomatoes, stirring to mix thoroughly. Add a large stalk of fresh basil into the pot, submerging it in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes for a thicker soup, or covered for a thinner consistency.
- Blend soup: Allow the soup to cool for 5 minutes, then remove and discard the cooked basil stalk. Blend the soup in batches according to your blender’s instructions for hot liquids until smooth. For a richer texture, stir in the heavy cream. 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 cream if desired. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- Use San Marzano tomatoes for a sweeter and richer tomato flavor.
- Do not substitute heavy cream if you want the authentic creamy texture.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit bacon.
- Be cautious when blending hot liquids to avoid splattering.
- Adjust seasoning to taste after blending as flavors develop during cooking.
