Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between creamy tomato soup and tomato soup? ›

But what about cream of tomato soup? Any “cream of” soup, tomato included, is pureed like a normal soup but then goes through a “creaming” process, wherein cream is added to the mixture. Cream of tomato soup is actually cooked at a much lower temperature than normal tomato soup.

A soup made with milk is usually richer and more luxurious than one made with just water or stock. This addition helps make the soup feel more comforting. Adding milk or cream to a soup can balance contrasting tastes and help ingredients that don't typically mesh blend seamlessly.

To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken. You can use whole milk or opt for skim milk to help slash the calories and fat content of your recipe.

The recipe uses cream instead of milk, which is crucial: The fat in the cream protects the dairy from curdling. A little more science: Fat protects the proteins in milk.

- Adding baking soda to tomato soup and tomato sauces helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Tomato flavors really shine, and your sauce or soup will not curdle if you add milk. - Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of tomato sauce or soup will make flavors sparkle and become less acidic.

Use Herbs and Seasonings

Add chopped fresh basil or parsley at the end of cooking to bring out that rich tomato flavor. Turn to your pantry for seasonings like fresh cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning or oregano, stirring them in while the soup is still cooking.

Tomato Basil Soup Serving Suggestions

Enjoy the soup with homemade focaccia or good crusty bread for lunch, or pair it with a sandwich, salad, or pasta for a heartier meal. Most often, Jack and I eat it with grilled cheese sandwiches, but it'd be great with a Caprese sandwich or avocado toast as well.

Why is my tomato soup so bland? ›

Always check seasonings and taste-test before serving. If the soup tastes bland at all, a bit more salt will do the trick, that doesn't just apply to this tomato soup recipe but just about anything you'll ever find yourself cooking.

Although it is likely to change the flavor profile more than other substitutes, tomato soup can work as a tomato sauce substitute. A can of tomato soup can replace 1 cup of tomato sauce. However, because the soup has more liquid than tomato sauce, you should reduce another liquid ingredient by 1/4 cup if possible.

Add tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil, chicken stock, salt and pepper and stir well. Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes. Add the cream to the soup and process it in a blender (small batches work best).

Tomato soup is really just thinned-out tomato sauce

So there's really nothing stopping you from using your favorite jarred tomato sauce (especially one with rich, cheesy notes already built in, like Bertolli Parmesan & Romano with Cracked Black Pepper Sauce) as the foundation for your soup.

Incorporating tomato soup into your diet is an easy way to boost your antioxidant intake. Heart Health Hero: Tomato soup is excellent for heart health. Thanks to its lycopene content, potassium, and fiber, it helps in lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.