Adding Acid For Canning
As I mentioned, acid is incredibly important in making sure your homemade canned tomato soup will stay shelf-stable.
To really make sure the acid level is right, it is common to add lemon juice or citric acid to the jars when you are canning anything tomato related.
You might be worried that lemon juice would affect the flavor of the soup. It does, but only slightly. And your soup wont taste lemony at all. Rather, it just tastes slightly brighter.
Citric acid doesnt alter the flavor of the soup at all. So if youre concerned about the lemon flavor, use citric acid.
However, there is another factor. When you add milk to the tomato soup that had citric acid in it, the milk separated a little. When added to the soup that had lemon juice, the milk separation was barely noticeable.
Id rather have a slightly brighter soup with less milk separation. Choose which route is best for your tastes!
How To Make Tomato Soup From Tomato Paste
Updated: / Posted: October 28, 2019 / By Sujatha Muralidhar This post may contain affiliate links· As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases·
This is a delicious recipe for tomato soup from tomato paste. It is smooth, filling, super easy and finally, it is very delicious. This family-friendly dish requires just four easily available pantry-ready ingredients, that most of your kitchen have it already.
This homemade Tomato soup from tomato paste is ultimate and convenient. You can make this quick and will be on your hands at the moment when you have a temptation for a warm soup. This dish is that speedy where it meets the imagination.
Here in Pennsylvania, it is raining almost every other day now. Now you know the reason for coming up with this luscious tasty soup. This quick genius recipe I always rely on and this, in fact, does not disappoint me whenever I make it.
When you stand next to the window and all you see only the rain? And looking to have a sip of warm cozy soup and do not have time to spend in cooking? this is effortless tomato soup is helpful.
Grab large wedges of buttery bread and a bowl this soup and feel the heaven. Im not exaggerating, Im sharing what I have experienced.
It is made with very few ingredients, precisely to say 3 main ingredients. So, getting the wrong results with this Tomato soup recipe is not possible because of its minimal process and minimal ingredients.
Can I Substitute Almond Milk With Whole Milk
No, I strongly recommend not to use whole milk as the milk gets cuddles because of the acidity in the tomato. Almond milk in this recipe used to mellow down the sourness of tomatoes. If you are not using almond milk to make tomato soup from tomato paste then, add 1 tablespoon of butter to neutralize the taste.
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Why Don’t You Use Fresh Tomatoes In This Recipe
Mostly because I’m lazy, and using canned tomatoes is easier. But also because fresh tomatoes do not always taste so good. Especially in winter, when most of us tend to make tomato soup. Winter tomatoes are often pale, mealy and flavorless.
Arguably, you’re better off using high quality canned tomatoes than using flavorless fresh tomatoes. And by the way, I also use canned pumpkin in this easy pumpkin soup. It’s wonderful!
How To Make Homemade Tomato Soup
I adore this fresh tomato soup because it is SO easy to make. Its one of those recipes that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen, but actually only requires 15 minutes of hands on time. If you dont believe me, let me outline how incredibly easy this really is
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How To Make Easy Tomato Soup
It’s a truly easy recipe, especially compared with traditional recipes. Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
1. Add the tomato puree, chicken broth, and spices to a stockpot.
2. Simmer the soup for 20 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat to low, stir in the cream, and keep on the stove just until heated through, 1-2 more minutes.
Can You Add Cream To Tomato Soup Without Curdling
Yes, just keep the heat low! I always add the cream after the heat has been turned off entirely. To avoid curdling on any soup recipe, do not let soup made with dairy come to a rolling boil! A very low soft simmer is fine. But an angry rolling boil will curdle your soup faster than you can say lumpy.
My sister Nikki told me the other day that she was in a hurry to get the last remaining vegetables in one of my creamy soups softened, so she brought it to a boil. She called me, laughing, to confess. The entire soup curdled. So just remember, to all the Nikkis out there in a hurry, no rapid boils for soups with milk or cream in it. Think low and slow.
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The Best Homemade Tomato Soup Recipe:
For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.
To a large pot, add:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 large onion, sliced
- pinch of salt
Cook over medium heat until things start to sizzle, and then cover and reduce to low until your onions are soft. Stir em around now and then. You dont want to brown them. If that starts to happen, add a little water to the pot, but chances are the steam and condensation will generate enough moisture to prevent them from browning.
While your onions are steaming, gather up:
- 2 lbs tomatoes
- 2-3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 tbsp uncooked white rice I used basmati rice
- big ol pinch of salt
- a sprig of fresh thyme or basil
- 1/2 bay leaf
***And this next ingredient is optional:
- 1 tsp garam masala
*My friends tomato soup recipe didnt actually call for garam masala. Its a spice commonly used in Indian recipes. I chose to add it because the mouth-watering smell of the onions and tomatoes and butter all cooking together reminded me of the Indian butter chicken sauce that I make. I figured a dash of the classic Indian spice would add a nice rich flavour to the soup. Guess what garam masala in tomato soup is absolutely divine.
While your onions continue to simmer:
1. Wash and core your tomatoes. Four clean slices through the tomato close to the core is how I do it.
When all the cores have been removed, youll have a heap of tomatoes that looks something like this. Gorgeous, arent they?
5. Now, youre going to add:
8. Puree it to your liking.
Homemade Tomato Soup: Faqs
Why crush the tomatoes by hand?
The main goal here is to use higher quality tomatoes, and usually whole canned tomatoes are higher quality whereas pre-crushed tomatoes are made from bits and pieces of lower quality tomatoes. That being said, Ive made this without hand-crushing the tomatoes and its still delicious.
How can I make this vegan?
Skip the bacon, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and skip the cream at the end .
Can this soup be frozen?
Yes! It should keep in the freezer for 3-4 months.
Can this be made in the Instant Pot?
Yes! See recipe notes for instructions.
Can I omit the bacon?
It totally works to make this meat-free, but youll lose a bit of the flavor the bacon adds. Just add in some oil to sauté the veggies in the second step.
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Other Purported Benefits That Are Not Backed By Science
Some people claim tomato soup has other health benefits. However, these are not backed by science.
- Promoting hair growth: At about 1.6 grams, a large raw tomato does not have much protein. Thus, tomato soup is unlikely to provide enough protein to promote hair growth (
49 ).
GERD is one of the most common illnesses in the United States. Its symptoms usually include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain .
Treating it usually includes identifying and eliminating triggering foods, meaning that tomato soup may not be the right choice if you have GERD.
What Our Readers Are Saying
If you dont believe that our recipe helps you achieve perfect tomato soup at home, take a look at what our readers are saying about the recipe! More reviews are in the comments section below.
WOW!! What a delicious and easy tomato soup, my three and one-year old were as thrilled as my husband and I were. Ashley
This is the best tomato soup, hands down!! Cannot say that emphatically enough. Did not change a thing from the recipe and it was perfect. Couldnt be easier to make. John
Made this exactly as written. Oh my gosh, this was amazing!!! Dayna
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How To Make Classic Tomato Soup
In a large nonreactive pot, heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. When butter is melted, add the onions and cook over medium-low/medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Do not brown.
Add the garlic and cook for a few minutes more, stirring to be sure garlic does not burn. Add the flour and continue cooking and stirring for 1 to 2 minutes more.
Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, sugar, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat while stirring to make sure that the flour is not sticking to the bottom or sides of the pan. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Use a hand-held immersion blender to puree soup until very smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Stir in remaining 3 tablespoons of butter.
Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil, croutons, and a generous sprinkling of Parmigiano-Reggiano.
How To Serve Tomato Soup
- Grilled Cheese tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches are the perfect match .
- Parmesan add shredded parmesan while the soup is hot so it melts over the top.
- Fresh Basil sprinkle the top with thinly sliced basil.
- Croutons sprinkle crunchy croutons over the soup.
- Toast simple toasted bread or crostini are great for dunking into the soup.
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How To Make Tomato Soup: Basic Steps
There are lots of ways to make a great tomato soup recipe: heres our magic formula! The only chopping required is youll have to mince some fresh garlic. Other than that, most of the cooking process is just waiting for it to simmer. Here are the basic steps:
- Step 1, Chop & sauté: Mince the garlic, then sauté in olive oil for 30 seconds.
- Step 2, Simmer: Add the canned tomatoes, broth onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
- Step 3, Blend: Immersion blend or carefully blend the soup .
- Step 4, Add butter: Add butter and salt to taste. Voila!
Ways To Adapt This Soup
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Ingredients For Tomato Basil Soup
Since this is a tomato-based soup, it is important to offset the acidity with some key ingredients. We use a combination of cream, parmesan, and a little sugar to balance the soup.
- Butter use unsalted butter to sautee onions
- Yellow onion it seems like a ton of onion but it dissapears into the soup adding a balanced sweetness
- Garlic youll need 1 Tbsp minced from about 3 cloves
- Crushed tomatoes with their juice, preferably San Marzano tomatoes
- Chicken stock for the best flavor use homemade chicken broth
- Basil chop and add 1/4 cup fresh basil, plus more to serve. Basil leaves are easily bruised so chop by stacking a bunch of leaves then roll them into a log and cut into thin strips.
- Sugar Its just 1 Tbsp, but necessary to combat the tomato acidity.
- Black pepper start with 1/2 tsp and add more to taste
- Whipping cream adds a creaminess to the soup and offsets acidity.
- Parmesan cheese adds saltiness to the soup and balances acidity. Adding parmesan adds enough salt and I usually dont add more.
How Do You Thicken Up Tomato Soup
The best way to thicken tomato soup is to cook it longer and wait as the tomato juices evaporate and reduce into a nice thick soup. This doesnt take too long if youre using canned tomatoes like we are.
The other best way is to add in a little bit of cream at the end. It gives your soup that luxurious, rich texture we all love.
And voila! The easiest tomato soup, 10x better than canned soup, and only about 10 minutes longer to make. Dip your grilled cheese in and youre on your way to heaven. Unless youre Valentine, actually. Tonight we noticed that she was just eating her grilled cheese and not dipping. Eric told her she should dip. She said, I tried that beforeand I never want to do it again. We died laughing. 3 year olds. You cant reason with them.
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What To Serve With This Tomato Soup
I am going to have to ask you > please make some extremely cheesy Parmesan garlic bread or grilled cheese or grilled sourdough bread or something, because what is tomato soup without the cheesy bread for dunking?
But with that being said, ultimately what is going to warm you to your toes and make you feel like a long nap on the couch is this simple homemade tomato soup. WITH BACON, remember. With bacon.
And if absolutely necessary to round things out a bit, here are a few green things to join the party as well:
Alright! Today is your day to make simple homemade tomato soup. I can just feeeeeeel it.
Its smoky, a little bit sweet, and just as creamy or not-creamy as you want it to be. Its simple ready in just under an hour, with MOST of that time being the part where you just gaze lovingly at the pot of simmering tomatoes and let the smells of carrots and onions and garlic and bacon wrap you up in their loveliness.
Cheers to your relaxing, comforting, hug-in-a-bowl tomato soup day!
Flavor Secret: Fire Roasted Canned Tomatoes
The key to the flavor in this tomato soup recipe? Fire roasted tomatoes. This type of tomatoes is roasted over a flame before canning, which makes the flavor sweet and developed right out of the can. You can absolutely taste the difference versus a plain canned tomato, which can taste bitter. Plus, you can cook fire roasted tomatoes for less time since the flavor is good right away .
Where to find fire roasted tomatoes? They should be available at your local grocery store, offered by several brands. If you cant find them, simply substitute the best quality canned tomatoes you can find. It really makes a difference in this tomato soup!
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How To Make The Best Homemade Tomato Soup Every Time
Fresh Versus Canned Tomatoes
There are so many approaches to making tomato soup at home. Some start with canned tomatoes, others with fresh. While there is certainly a convenience to using tomatoes from a can, it does not quite compare with the fresh variety.
In order to get the kind of soup we are looking for, skip the can and go right to the fresh tomatoes that are perfectly ripe. You will be rewarded with the sweetness that can only be derived from the best tasting tomatoes.
Beyond the debate of fresh versus canned tomatoes, some recipes will rely on tomato paste to bring a concentrated flavor to their soup. What this tends to contribute is a deeper, cooked tomato taste with a sweeter tomato essence.
While that certainly works, this is not the flavor profile we are going for, so it really has no place in this recipe.
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