I’ve been on a soup kick the past few weeks and I’m in no hurry to change it up anytime soon! And this Roasted Tomato Basil Soup with Cheesy Garlic Bread is about to be your go-to tomato soup from here on out!
I know we all feel very strongly about Roasted Tomato Basil Soup. I mean, what else are you supposed to eat alongside your grilled cheese during the fall and winter months? Hello?!? Tomato soup is VERY important which is why I’m so excited about this recipe. It’s great for anytime of the year.
If you’re in the middle of winter and there aren’t any great tomatoes, you can use canned roasted tomatoes and it’s going to be perfect. Just keep your eyes open for a brand of canned tomatoes that really strike your fancy! Canned tomatoes are assembled in the peak of tomato season – so it’s the way to go if the tomatoes in your produce department are lacking any flavor or scent! If you’re in the middle of tomato season, then by all means, roast your own tomatoes!! I’ve tried it both ways and the bottom line is – you need great tomatoes as they are the base for the soup.
I serve this up with a grill cheese or a garlic cheesy toast! I’ve been known to serve it up as brunch with a croque monsieur too! Because I live on the edge and I do what I want. YOLO.
But whether you serve this Roasted Tomato Basil Soup up by itself or with some toasty / cheesy bread, I promise you’ll love it.
Roasted Tomato Basil Soup with Cheesy Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion small dice
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 28- ounce cans roasted tomatoes or 3 pounds of tomatoes, halved and roasted at 425 degrees for 30 minutes
- 1-2 roasted red bell peppers either from the jar and drained, or halved and season with salt, pepper and a few teaspoons of olive oil and roasted in the oven at 425 for 20 minutes
- 3/4 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream optional
- Handful fresh basil leaves
For the Cheesy Garlic Bread
- 1 baguette sliced into triangles
- Butter at room temperature
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1/2 pound grated Gruyere
- Fresh thyme for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add diced onions and cook gently, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 20 minutes.
- Add flour and stir until mixture is slightly thickened and pale gold, about 3 minutes; do not allow to brown.
- Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, red bell peppers, chicken broth, salt, red pepper flakes, thyme and pepper. Raise heat to medium until the liquid bubbles, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot frequently.
- Stir in heavy cream (if using) and basil. Remove from heat and purée using a hand blender, or allow to cool until no longer steaming and purée in batches in a stand blender. Return to medium heat just until heated through.
- Once the soup is done, preheat the broiler. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet in a single layer. Slather the top with butter and sprinkle with garlic. Top the bread with the Gruyere and broil until bubbly and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
Photo Matt Armendariz // Food Styling Adam Pearson // Props Gena Sigala // Recipe by Gaby
I want a big bowl of this flavorful & savoy soup! Yum!
there is nothing better than a bowl of roasted tomato basil soup! this looks gorgeous!
How can I save this to Pinterest
This soup is so simple and amazing!
This is the BEST on a grey wintery day!
This is delicious. I like the addition of the red pepper to change it up fro a typical tomato soup. Yum.
My husband is on a cardiac diet so would fat free half &a half worknin place of the heavy cream?
absolutely
Do you think it would work to freeze this soup?
yes! 100%
Hey Gaby! Could I use Coconut milk or Coconut Cream to replace the Heavy Cream?
yes! absolutely
Thank you! I’ve made this multiple times and I LOVE it! Trying to cut down on my dairy! :o)
Quick instruction on roasting the bell peppers please!
Have the same question??
I just pulled the last of my tomatoes from the garden! This is perfect timing
I don’t see sugar in the ingredients list, but it mentions sugar in the directions. How much sugar should be used?
no sugar!!! typo 🙂
Oooooh. This is going to be my new favorite. The cheesy bread puts it over the top good!
Looks delicious! Is that 3/4 cup of chicken broth or 3-4 cups?
3/4 cup!
Hi Gaby, step 3 says to sugar yet sugar is not on ingredient list. How much sugar?
no sugar!!! typo 🙂
In the instructions it indicates add sugar, but I don’t see it on the ingredient list?
no sugar!!! typo 🙂
Hiii!! tomato soup is my absolute favorite! cannot wait to make this!! on the ingredient list you don’t mention sugar, but in the directions you do. How much sugar is needed?
no sugar!!! typo 🙂
Can this soup be made gluten free? What flour would you sub for the all-purpose? Would almond flour work here or make it too grainy? Thank you!!
I used arrowroot flour to make it gluten free and it came out perfect!
I made this today and WOW!! Great flavors! I have to admit what I thought was a jar of roasted red peppers in my pantry was really ma jar of peppadew peppers! So I just used those and omitted the pepper flakes. This is my new favorite tomato soup! Hands down!!
Can I substitute bone broth for chicken stock to add some protein? Thanks! Looks delish!
absolutely!!
This was absolutely delicious! It definitely had a kick so I’d cut down on the pepper flakes a bit, but it was still great.
Plus, you know, garlicky buttery cheesy bread…. I should’ve made more.
Just made this for dinner tonight. It was really good! We had grilled cheese instead of the cheese bread, but I added some garlic to the butter I grilled the cheese in to add the garlic flavor. Perfect for a wintry weather evening in CO. Thanks!
Ok so I watched you make this on your insta-live and oh my gosh. Just straight drooled until I made some and had it for dinner the next night. Soooo good and easy!! 15/10 already taking it to work for my lunchbox and making my coworkers jealous (…and bragging on social media…and sending my mom the recipe …and preaching to my brother that he just hasn’t lived yet until he eats this with a grilled cheese etc etc.)
What is you preferred brand of fire roasted tomatoes and where can you buy them?
The san marzano ones from whole foods are my fav
You did a live Instagram story making this soup and made a deliciously gooey grilled cheese to go with it! I remember it was a soft cheese from whole foods but what was the actual cheese you used??
port salut!
Hey Gaby! If I double this for a larger crowd, do I really need to do 4 28-oz cans of tomatoes? Just simply double everything? Thx!
If you’re making it for 12+ people, then yes, double everything if you want decent sized portions!
Made it! Loved it! Got lots of compliments. I did end up doubling it and now I have some to freeze! I love when dinner gets me excited to eat. Yum!
It’s going to be a nasty snow storm and polar vortex weekend here and I can think of nothing better than this soup to warm the insides!
Side note made it for friends as an easy NYE dinner and rave reviews. The roasted red peppers add that something extra!
Yum! Made this last night. I roasted peppers and tomatoes that I had in abundance from my weekly CSA box. Otherwise made this as directed. It was just perfect. So fresh and tasty!
Is this just a single serving recipe?
4-6!
Hi! Is there any problem with using whole canned Plum Tomatoes and roasting them? I seldom see Canned Roasted Tomatoes. Thanks 🙂
you can absolutely do that
BEST soup ever!! I always thought I didn’t like tomato soup.. never attempted to try it until one day my husband wanted me to make it. I went directly to Gaby’s website to see how her version was and saw that it had red bell pepper in it too. I gave it a try and I’m so glad I did! Since then I’ve made it multiple times! So creamy, rich, and just super tasty!
Thanks Gaby!!
I made the soup and then poached some cod nestled in the soup. My hubby said a top “5” meal for him !! Yumm!!
Delicious
Would gluten free flour work in this recipe? Or is there a better flour substitute?
yes absolutely would work in this!
Made this tonight! Awesome
Made this last night and it was delicious! It was a huge hit with the family!
This recipe was very easy and had tons of flavor.
This soup is so delicious! I always make a double batch and freeze the extra. It’s a staple for sure.
Perfect summertime soup! Roasting my own tomatoes and peppers make this amazingly perfect! The flavors are intense and can be enjoyed with or without cream. For those who are Gluten Free- a GF all purpose flour works perfectly.
Easy and excellent!!! Thank you! We love your recipes Gabby!
I had an excess of tomatoes and basil that needed to be used quickly from my CSA box. The addition of the roasted red peppers and chili pepper flakes make it so much more delicious! Such a great recipe to have on the first official day of fall!
so happy to hear it!
I’m excited to
Make this soup this upcoming weekend.
Can I make this ahead of time?
absolutely can!
Made this last night and it was a HUGE hit. My husband has also shot down any sort of tomato soup, and he LOVED this. I roasted my tomatoes and peppers in the oven, and the soup tasted so wonderfully fresh. Only thing I added was a small amount of garlic alongside the onion. Thanks, Gaby!
Deliciously creamy and fresh! I would take the time to roast the tomatoes yourself; it’s easy!
This is so good, and complex. I hate sweet tomato soups and this is rich and savory. If you are sensitive to spice I’d say used 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes but I personally like it as-is. I used 1 x 28 oz can San Marzano-style whole tomatoes with basil and 2 x 14.5 oz cans fire-roasted tomatoes. Delicious.
Made the roasted tomato soup!!! Delicious❤️
Hi Gaby and Thomas,
After watching you prepare this soup live last night I just had to make it tonight! It is amazing and I did add the cream. I also did the baguette with the Port Salut cheese and Triple Cream Brie with Wild Mushrooms. Oh my gosh both cheeses are amazing on the toasted bread. Thank you both for the delicious recipe!
I almost cried when I ate this. I think its the best thing I have ever cooked. I only had one can of fire roasted so I did half roasted and half not. I roasted the pepp myself (worth it). I am printing this and laminating it and never letting it go