Tomato and Basil Soup: Easy Soup Recipe

Tomato soup is not only one of the most popular soups, but it is also one of the simplest to make. It is also a soup that has many variations. One fresh-tasting and simple soup recipe based on tomatoes is tomato and basil soup.

This tomato soup has all the fresh flavours of the Mediterranean, so it works well if you are planning a Spanish or Italian-based menu. It is light enough to enjoy as a lunch on its own and hearty enough to eat as an evening meal, especially if eaten with bread or croutons.

It is easy to adapt this soup to suit your tastes, and you will find some hints and advice for doing so in the ‘Additional Tips’ section at the end of the recipe.

Here is how to make a tasty and simple tomato and basil soup.

Ingredients for Tomato and Basil Soup

• 2 kg/ 4 lb 4 oz ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 litre/ 1 ¾ pints vegetable stock
• 1 handful of fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
• I stick of celery finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. caster sugar
• 1 tbsp. tomato puree
• Salt and black pepper to taste

How to Make Tomato and Basil Soup

1. Crush the garlic and chop the tomatoes, celery, and basil leaves. Retain a few basil leaves to decorate your soup if you wish.
2. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil.
3. Add the chopped celery to the pan and cook for three or four minutes until the celery is beginning to soften.
4. Next, add the crushed garlic and cook for a further two minutes.
5. Add the tomatoes and tomato puree to the pan and cook for a further 10 minutes until the tomatoes and beginning to break down.
6. Then, add the basil and the vegetable stock to the pan, and cook for a further 10 minutes.
7. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and blitz to your preferred consistency before returning to the pan. Alternatively, use a hand blender to blitz the soup to the consistency of your choice.
8. Season the soup with caster sugar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
9. Cook for another two minutes before serving, and add some basil leaves to the top for decoration, if you wish.
10. Serve the tomato and basil soup with your choice of bread or croutons.

Additional Tips

• Add more or less garlic, depending on your tastes.
• If you do not have a garlic crusher, then grate the garlic to avoid big lumps.
• You can make this tomato and basil soup using chicken stock if you are not vegetarian or vegan.
• Those who are not dairy intolerant can add a swirl of cream or a dollop of crème Fraiche.
• If you do not have fresh basil, you can add a tbsp of dried basil instead, but fresh basil is nicer.
• You might also like to try our Bloody Mary Tomato Soup, our Tomato, Courgette, and Pepper Soup, or our Cream of Tomato Soup recipes.