Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque (Printable version)

Velvety soup combining ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and cream for a warm, flavorful dish.

# What you need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
05 - 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes, with juices
06 - 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish

→ Liquids

07 - 2 cups vegetable broth
08 - 1 cup heavy cream

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon sugar
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

# How to make it:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and carrot, sautéing for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until aromatic, being careful not to burn.
03 - Add diced tomatoes with juices, chopped basil, vegetable broth, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired. Stir thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients.
04 - Bring mixture to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
05 - Remove pot from heat. Using an immersion blender, puree soup directly in pot until completely smooth and velvety. Alternatively, carefully transfer soup to a standard blender in batches.
06 - Stir heavy cream into pureed soup. Reheat gently over low heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
07 - Ladle hot soup into individual bowls. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately while steaming hot.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly silky without any fancy techniques
  • It tastes like you spent all day cooking when really it took 45 minutes
  • Simple ingredients create something restaurant quality
02 -
  • Blending hot soup requires caution either use an immersion blender or vent your blender carefully
  • The carrot is not optional it balances acidity without tasting like carrots
  • Do not boil after adding cream or it may separate slightly
03 -
  • Use an immersion blender to save dishes and avoid transferring hot soup
  • Add a pinch of smoked paprika for unexpected depth that guests will notice

Go back