Name: creamy roasted tomato soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 3 pounds plum tomatoes, trimmed & quartered; 1 large onion, cut lengthwise into 8 wedges ((about 13 ounces)); 1/2 cup red bell pepper, coarsely chopped ((about 3 ounces)); 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 3 garlic cloves, peeled & halved; 5 cups chicken broth ((or vegetable broth)); 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley; half & half or heavy cream, to finish ((optional)); croutons, for garnish ((optional))

Tomato + onion + sweet red pepper + roasting = deliciousness. It also equals Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup.

Here we are enjoying the final days of the summer season. That translates to a plentiful amount of fresh tomatoes, right? I know it’s been wicked hot lately, so the thought of soup may not be on your mind.

But believe me on this one …when those end-of-summer tomatoes are roasted along with a few companions, the outcome is awesome. Totally worth heating up your oven.

Let’s make this as carefree as we can. Be sure to fully line your rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

The veggies will caramelize quite a bit. That’s a good thing …the more they caramelize, the deeper the flavor. With the parchment paper in place, clean up will be a breeze.

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Fully line two rimmed baking pans with parchment paper.

Arrange the tomatoes, onion, and red bell pepper in a single layer on the lined baking pans.
Drizzle the olive oil over the tomato mixture.
Season with the salt and pepper.

Roast the tomato mixture in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Add the halved garlic.
Continue roasting until the mixture is tender for an additional 15 minutes.

While the tomato medley is roasting, prepare the garlic cloves. They’ll be added to the mix during the last 15 minutes in the oven.

While you’re at it, you may as well chop the fresh herbs so they’re ready when it’s time to serve up the goodness.

After the garlic is added, get the chicken (or vegetable) broth heated up in a large pot or dutch oven. I always use my Le Creuset 5 1/2-Quart Dutch Oven on this …it works like a charm.

Bring the broth to a boil in a large pot or dutch oven.
Reduce the heat and simmer, covered.

Process your soup with the blender method…

When ready, place half of the roasted tomato mixture into the blender.
Cover and hold lid down.
Pulse a few times before leaving on to blend until smooth.
Add a small amount of the warm broth if extra liquid is needed.
Pour the pureed tomato mixture into the pot with the broth.
Puree remaining half of tomato mixture and add to stock mixture, mixing well.
Simmer for 5 minutes until heated through.

Alternatively, process your soup with the immersion blender – always my preferred method…

Transfer all of the roasted veggies directly to the hot broth.
Using an immersion blender, process until the entire mixture is smooth.
Simmer for 5 minutes to be sure it is heated through.

I highly recommend using an immersion blender. I’m all about the easiest possible clean-up, so the immersion blender is always my first choice.

Whichever method you choose, you’ll end up with a smooth well-blended full-flavored tomato soup.

Stir in the chopped fresh herbs.
For a creamier consistency, add half & half or heavy cream to taste.
Or serve the soup as it is.
Offer some cream on the side to be added, if desired, to individual servings.

This soup is delicious just as it is. Light and healthy. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, just add your fresh herbs and dig in.

But maybe you like your tomato soup to be on the creamy side. We’re here to help you with that. You can add some half & half or heavy cream to the pot, tasting as you go until you reach the desired consistency. Or, better yet, serve the soup with the cream on the side. That way everyone can decide how much creaminess they would like.

This Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup is created for dipping.

Don’t forget the topping of croutons.

Unless you have some grilled cheese sandwiches handy for dipping. Of course, that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

creamy roasted tomato soup

Roasting brings out the full flavor of the tomatoes. Enjoy as it is. Or add a touch of cream for extra richness.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 8 servings

Author Rosemary Stelmach

Ingredients

3 pounds plum tomatoes, trimmed & quartered
1 large onion, cut lengthwise into 8 wedges (about 13 ounces)
1/2 cup red bell pepper, coarsely chopped (about 3 ounces)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 garlic cloves, peeled & halved
5 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
half & half or heavy cream, to finish (optional)
croutons, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Fully line two rimmed baking pans with parchment paper.
Arrange the tomatoes, onion, and red bell pepper in a single layer on the lined baking pans. Drizzle the olive oil over the tomato mixture. Season with the salt and pepper.
Roast the tomato mixture in the preheated oven for 30 minutes; add the halved garlic. Continue roasting until the mixture is tender, an additional 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring broth to a boil in a large pot or dutch oven. Reduce heat and simmer, covered.
When ready, place half of the roasted tomato mixture into the blender. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend until smooth, adding a small amount of the warm broth if extra liquid is needed. Pour pureed tomato mixture into the pot with the broth. Puree remaining half of tomato mixture and add to stock mixture, mixing well. Simmer for 5 minutes until heated through.
Alternatively, the roasted veggies can be transferred directly to the hot broth. Using an immersion blender, process until the entire mixture is smooth. Simmer for 5 minutes to be sure it is heated through.
Stir in the chopped fresh herbs. For a creamier consistency, add half & half or heavy cream to taste. Or serve the soup as it is with the cream on the side to be added, if desired, to individual servings.

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