A Deliciously Tasty Heirloom Tomato Soup Recipe
If you are in search of a tasty heirloom tomato soup recipe that will allow you to forgo the canned options forever, you have come to the right place. This is an especially helpful recipe for anyone who grows their own heirloom tomatoes and is looking for the perfect way to use them all up. This recipe is creamy, flavorful and a great meal regardless of the season.
Of course, it is a great addition to any wintertime menu, but that does not mean that we can’t enjoy this heirloom tomato soup recipe all year round. Warm and delicious soups are always welcome! The recipe calls for heirloom tomatoes but if you need to swap them out, there is no problem with that. Best of all, this soup is easy to freeze and store, so you always have some at the ready.
Prep Time/Cook Time
This soup is incredibly easy to prepare. Prep time will only take 10 minutes and the soup can be cooked within 35 minutes, allowing you to enjoy delicious heirloom tomato soup in only 45 minutes.
Ingredients
- Large heirloom tomatoes (10 is the best amount + they should be sliced into wedges first)
- Garlic cloves (10, peeled)
- Large yellow onion (sliced)
- Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
- Fresh thyme (roughly 10 sprigs from your bunch)
- Water (5 cups or you have the option of using low-sodium veggie stock instead)
- Sea salt (1 pinch is great but you can add more as taste dictates)
- Red pepper flakes (1 tablespoon)
- Fresh herbs (1/3 cup, basil, chives, oregano, parsley can be used for garnish)
Cooking Instructions
Since this heirloom tomato soup can be prepared on the stovetop or the oven, we are here to provide the necessary variations. Feel free to read on and learn more about each method. This will allow you to choose the cooking style that is best for you.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Take your tomatoes, garlic, onion and thyme and place them in a sizable roasting dish. From there, take your olive oil and drizzle the tomatoes, garlic, onion, and thyme accordingly. Once these steps are complete, add a pinch of sea salt to the mixture. Some may decide to add a bit extra, depending on personal taste.
- Now it is time to roast the mixture and you will know that this step is complete when your heirloom tomatoes (or the tomatoes of your choosing) have had the chance to completely collapse. They will also start to caramelize around their edges.
- Take your thyme sprigs and discard them. Make sure that you are saving some for your garnish, though. As soon as the sprigs are gone, it is time transfer the freshly roasted tomatoes, garlic and onion together. Make sure that they are being moved to a medium-sized soup pot with all the juices intact.
- This is when the veggie stock or the water is added to the mix. Once the veggie stock or water has been added, bring the soup to a simmer for 5 minutes.
- This is where an immersion blender is going to come in handy. You are going to want to carefully purée the soup so that it has a chance to become creamy and smooth. If you are seeking a truly smooth consistency, take the soup and transfer it to a different blender. Some may find that the immersion blender does not provide the texture that they desire.
- You are given the chance to adjust your seasonings in the manner of your choice again. Looking to add another pinch or two of sea salt? This is your chance to do just that. Once you have added the necessary seasonings, you can now serve your heirloom tomato soup garnished with the roasted tomatoes and the fresh herbs that you have had on reserve during the cooking process.
- A splash of cashew or coconut cream can be added now if you are seeking a more smooth and creamy consistency.
Stove Top Cooking Method
- For best results, you will want to use a heavy bottom soup pot. Once you have your pot, saute the onion with your olive oil. This step is complete when the onion has had the chance to become soft and translucent. Add the garlic now and cook until there is a noticeable fragrance.
- The pepper flakes, chopped tomatoes and fresh thyme are now stirred into the soup. From there, allow the soup to cook until your tomatoes have had the chance to release their juices. You will know it is time to move on once they have begun to collapse.
- This is where the water and veggie stock are added. You are also going to be adding seasoning now. Grab a pinch of sea salt, add it to the soup and bring the pot to a simmer.
- Gently cook the soup for 20 minutes. At this time, you will be able to discard your thyme sprigs. As soon as they are removed, it is time to transfer the soup to a blender. Puree the soup until it has had a chance to become creamy and smooth. Give the soup a taste and adjust seasonings as needed. This is when you can add more sea salt if it suits you. If you are looking to balance out the flavor a bit, feel free to add a squeeze of fresh lemon.
- Meanwhile, there are others who may decide that they would rather use an immersion blender. This will allow you to puree the soup in the pot that it was cooked in. If you are someone who wants to achieve a truly smooth consistency, then you are going to want to use a standing blender.
Why Do Some People Add Baking Soda?
You may have seen some people adding baking soda to their tomato soup before. As it turns out, there is a very good reason for this decision. Baking soda is added to the soup as a means of neutralizing the amount of acidity that the tomatoes may have. It also helps when it comes to making sure that the soup has the proper consistency.
If you are someone who prefers a creamier soup, this is your chance to address it. The presence of baking soda will also keep dairy from having a chance to curdle. The baking soda will bubble and foam a bit when it is added but do not fret. It has no effect on the flavor profile of your heirloom tomato soup recipe.
