How to Make Jason’s Deli Tomato Basil Soup Recipe at Home
Tomato soup is the ultimate comfort food, and when that rich tomato taste is accented with savory, aromatic basil, the warm, delicious smells permeate the entire kitchen and whets the appetite of even the pickiest eaters.
Still, the thought of making homemade soup can be a little intimidating, and many fear that it will require more time and skill than they have. So, they go to the deli when they need a bowl of hot tomato soup, and Jason[‘s Deli’s Tomato Basil soup is a favorite as a light lunch or as a first course for a full meal.
Would you believe that you can make delicious Jason’s Deli Tomato Basil Soup at home without too much fuss, time, or expense?
Read on to learn more.
What Supplies and Ingredients Will I Need to Make Jason’s Deli Tomato Basil Soup?
You need only the simplest, most basic cooking items for this recipe. They include a large pot for cooking the soup, a blender or immersion blender, and, of course, a knife for chopping the onion, garlic, and basil leaves.
You might be relieved to hear that you don’t need fresh tomatoes to make Jason’s Deli Tomato Basil Soup. It can be hard to find really yummy tomatoes during the cold months, and, if you’re like me, you don’t look forward to peeling tomatoes. So, instead of testing your patience by peeling the fresh tomatoes, you can use canned tomatoes and tomato paste in this recipe.
You’ll want to gather two cans, or about 28 ounces of whole, peeled tomatoes as well as two tablespoons of tomato paste. Remember not to drain the tomatoes because you’ll need that liquid for the soup.
Other ingredients include butter, olive oil, an onion, a carrot, minced garlic, heavy cream, vegetable broth, and, of course, dried or fresh basil.
I’ve Gathered the Ingredients and Supplies, So How Do I Make the Soup?
Here’s the recipe.
Equipment:
- Large Pot (a Dutch oven can also be used)
- Sharp Knife
- Immersion Blender or Blender
Ingredients:
- 28 ounces canned tomatoes
- two tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 carrot grated
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 yellow onion finely diced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons dried basil or one cup finely chopped fresh basil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- 1. In a large pot, saute the butter, olive oil, garlic, carrots, and onion on medium heat for five minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
- 2. If you are cooking with fresh basil, slice or chop one cup.
- 2. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and broth. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- 3. Reduce the soup to a simmer and add the basil, salt, pepper, and the cream.
- 4. Let the soup simmer for at least 30 minutes.
- 5. Blend the soup with an immersion blender on the stove, or cool it and transfer it to a regular blender.
- 6. Blend until it has a creamy consistency.
- 7. Serve and enjoy.
If you choose, you can add a dash of other spices, such as coriander or grated red peppers to taste. This wonderful soup can also be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
Is Jason’s Deli Tomato Basil Soup Nutritious?
This delightful soup is as nutritious as it is delicious.
According to WebMed, tomatoes are loaded with all sorts of good things, including lycopene, an antioxidant that helps to protect your cells from damage.
Lycopene protects your immune system, and it may make you less likely to develop some forms of cancer, including lung, stomach, and prostrate cancer. Research also suggests that it may help prevent diseases in the breast, cervix, colon, throat, mouth, and pancreas.
Tomatoes also contain other valuable nutrients, including potassium, and Vitamins B and E.
What Types of Basil Work Best in Jason’s Deli Tomato Basil Soup?
Sweet Basil, or Genovese Basil, is the most commonly used basil in Tomato Basil soup, but the variety that you use really depends on availability and on your own personal taste.
If you and your family like your foods a little spicy, purple varieties, such as Red Rubin Basil, are very flavorful. l adore all things lemony, so I’ve found that Lemon Basil also works well in this soup. It provides just a light hint of lemon that combines well with the savory tomato taste. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different varieties of basil, and you can combine varieties of basil to achieve the taste and aroma that you and your family most crave.
Can I Grow My Own Basil?
Basil is easy and fun to grow in home gardens, and, if you have limited space, you can grow it in containers.
While Sweet Basil is the most commonly used, the University of Wisconsin Horticulture notes that these green-leafed basil plants are particularly susceptible to Downy Mildew, a devastating fungus that attacks garden plants.
So, if you live in a humid climate, you might want to try growing Thai Basil, a Purple Basil such as Red Rubin, or Lemon Basil. After battling fungal diseases on my Sweet Basil during the 2021 growing season, I’ve switched to these other varieties, and I’ve found them to be disease-free and very flavorful.
Basil requires full sun, or at least six to eight hours daily, and the soil needs to be well-drained and kept slightly moist but never soggy. Plants in containers will need to be watered daily, while in-ground plants may only need to be watered once a week unless it’s extremely hot and dry.
Basil is very cold-sensitive and grows as an annual except in tropical climates, but you can harvest and dry or freeze the leaves before the first frost.
What Should I Remember About Making Jason’s Deli Tomato Basil Soup?
- This delicious tomato soup is a comfort food that works well with bread and salad for a nutritious lunch, as a first course for a full dinner, or as a late night snack before bedtime.
- This soup is easy to make from ingredients that are readily available. It doesn’t require the messy, time-consuming task of peeling tomatoes, and it only requires a few minutes of preparation time and 30 minutes of cooking time.
- Tomatoes are not only delicious, but they are also nutritious.
So how about soup tonight? It’s easy, and so delicious that your family will love it
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