A great way to use up fresh tomatoes, this Cream of Tomato Soup is creamy and has a delicious, mild tomato flavor. Don’t skip the homemade croutons – they taste like buttered toast in your soup!
Fresh Tomato Soup
The reason I chose this recipe was that I was wanting to make something with the bounty of tomatoes I have in my backyard right now. So I go to the index to look up tomatoes. Unfortunately, most of the recipes weren’t recipes that used fresh tomatoes. In fact, this soup can be made with canned or fresh. Although fresh is a lot more work, I’m sure the result is worth it. This soup really was quite delicious.
I did definitely had my doubts, though, more than once. It’s the strangest soup recipe I’ve ever made – you basically make a bechamel sauce that you add in the makes the “cream” part. So different, but it totally worked here.
Tips and Tricks
- For the white sauce – the recipe calls for a small onion – and it’s probably best if your onion is quite small. Mine was a regular sized onion, but it stuck halfway out of the sauce. I think the flavor would have picked up better if the onion was fully submerged.
- I think the ratio of tomato mixture to white sauce was a bit off. Next time, I would either do 1 1/2 times the tomato mixture, or cut the white sauce down my about half. It was good, but I wish the tomato flavor would have screamed at me more.
- You will definitely need salt. I had to add a bit more than I wish I would have, but it really helped.
- If you make the croutons right before serving, they will still be a bit soft, even if they get toasted on all sides. But they were actually quite good that way – it was like I had little bits of buttered toast in my soup. The rest of the croutons dried out more after about 30 minutes, and then resembled regular croutons.
This Cream of Tomato Soup is a great way to use those tomatoes, and I will definitely be trying it with canned tomatoes in the winter to stay warm!
More Ways to Use Fresh Tomatoes
Roasted Tomatoes with Pesto
Chicken with Tomato Parmesan Sauce
Tomato Tart with Bacon and Gruyere
Tomato and Basil Bake
Cream of Tomato Soup
Ingredients
White Sauce
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 7 tablespoons flour
- 4 cups milk
- 1 small onion studded with 8-10 whole cloves
- 2 small bay leaves
- fresh nutmeg
Soup
- 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes peeled and seeded (can substitute canned)
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- White Sauce
- salt and pepper
- Croutons
- fresh basil
Croutons
- 2 slices bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Make the white sauce: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Melt the butter in a large ovenproof saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk. Add the onion and the bay leaves. Frequently stir the mixture until it is slightly thickened, 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer the pan to the oven. Cook for 20-30 minutes, until the sauce has completely thickened.
- Remove the bay leaves and the onion, and add a dash of fresh nutmeg.
- Make the soup: In a soup pot, combine the tomatoes, celery, onion and sugar. Simmer together, covered, for about 15 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. Return the tomato mixture back to the pot.
- Add the white sauce to the tomato mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat for a few minutes, until completely heated through.
- Make the croutons: Cut the bread into squares. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the olive oil. Add the bread cubes and stir to coat. Saute the bread cubes until they are toasted on all sides.
- Top each serving of soup with some of the croutons and a bit of fresh basil.
Eden passante says
Tomato soup is one of my favorites! This recipe looks so good!
Psychgrad says
Interesting sounding recipe. I don't get the whole multiple editions either. Maybe if it's a classic and the authors update it once or twice. Other than that, it just seems like a way to make more money — add addition versions because there is already name recognition for the book.
Emily says
This does sound like a unique recipe. I guess the bechamel thickens the soup instead of just adding cream at the end.
It sounds great! You should see out counter; it's full of tomatoes from our garden.
Patsyk says
I love creamy tomato soup! You are so right, the extra work of using fresh tomatoes is really worth it.
Maria says
I am ready for soup season!
Abby says
That's quite a cookbook for a month! And I don't get editions, either, but in this case didn't the grandson revise it? Not that that's a good reason!
Sophie says
I love the new notes section! I like hearing tips when it comes to recipes, especially for foods I've never tried before. I don't even know that I've ever had a tomato soup before! Sounds like it'd make a great lunch though.
kat says
I think what happens with Joy is is gets updated with the times so they may modernize the recipes. We love our copy of it & it is well used but I think I tend to use it as a launching pad for things. I do find that you have to read the full recipe before starting since they don't list all the ingredients up front.
Grace says
very interesting. i'm fascinated by the white sauce and its inclusion of onion. it sure makes a lovely color!
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
That is a delicious and refined soup!
Cheers,
Rosa
Frieda says
I think you would like Ina Gartens Creamy Fresh Tomato Basil soup. Only takes about 4 pounds of fresh tomatoes and definitely worth it~
Kim says
I don't get why you would have so many editions to a cookbook either. I agree with you on that one. The soup looks beautiful and I love the croutons on the top. This would go perfect with that grilled cheese I've been craving : )