Barefoot Contessa Cream Of Fresh Tomato Soup Recipe

The Best Barefoot Contessa Cream Of Fresh Tomato Soup Recipe

Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup radiates warmth and nostalgia, calling to mind cozy kitchens and cherished memories.

Rich, velvety textures transform ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience that delights the senses.

Summer-ripe tomatoes blend seamlessly with aromatic herbs, creating a silky symphony of flavor.

Smooth and comforting, this soup transcends simple sustenance, offering a luxurious embrace in every spoonful.

Seasonal ingredients elevate this classic recipe from mundane to magnificent, promising depth and complexity.

Home cooks can craft this soul-soothing dish with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction: prepare to fall in love.

Relish Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup

Relish Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup
  • Savor Rich Homemade Comfort: This soup transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious, velvety experience that feels like a warm hug from your favorite Italian grandmother. The slow-simmered tomatoes create a deep, complex flavor profile that elevates classic comfort food.
  • Masterfully Effortless Technique: With minimal cooking skills, you can create a restaurant-quality soup using straightforward techniques. The gentle sautéing of vegetables and patient simmering develop incredible depth without requiring advanced culinary expertise.
  • Customize Your Culinary Canvas: The recipe offers incredible flexibility for personal touches. Swap chicken stock for vegetable broth to make it vegetarian, adjust cream quantities for desired richness, or experiment with different herb combinations to match your taste preferences.
  • Quick Weeknight Gourmet Solution: Ready in under an hour, this soup delivers sophisticated flavors without consuming your entire evening. Perfect for busy home cooks craving something delicious yet uncomplicated, making weeknight dinners feel special and indulgent.

Key Ingredients for Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup

Fresh Vegetables:
  • Onions: Sweet base for soup with gentle flavor and aromatic foundation.
  • Carrots: Natural sweetness and subtle earthy undertones for depth.
  • Garlic: Robust flavor enhancer with deep aromatic profile.
Tomato Base:
  • Fresh Tomatoes: Ripe, juicy foundation providing bright and natural soup flavor.
  • Tomato Purée: Concentrated tomato essence for rich and intense taste.
  • Caster Sugar: Balances tomato acidity and enhances natural sweetness.
Liquid and Seasoning Components:
  • Chicken Stock: Savory liquid base adding depth and complexity to soup.
  • Double Cream: Smooth, rich component creating luxurious texture.
  • Sea Salt: Pure mineral seasoning for balanced flavor enhancement.
  • Black Pepper: Warm, subtle spice for gentle heat and complexity.
Herb and Garnish:
  • Fresh Basil Leaves: Aromatic herb with sweet, peppery notes for bright finish.
  • Croutons: Optional crunchy topping for textural contrast.
Cooking Fats:
  • Olive Oil: High-quality fat for gentle vegetable sautéing with subtle flavor.

Easy Steps for Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup

Easy Steps for Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup

Step 1: Warm Up The Cooking Vessel

Heat olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-low temperature. Add these ingredients:
  • Onions
  • Carrots

Gently cook for about 10 minutes until vegetables become soft and translucent. Toss in garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Step 2: Build Flavor Foundation

Combine these ingredients in the pot:
  • Chopped tomatoes
  • Caster sugar
  • Tomato purée
  • Fresh basil
  • Chicken stock
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper

Stir everything thoroughly. Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then lower heat and simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes until tomatoes become incredibly tender.

Step 3: Create Silky Texture

Stir in double cream. Process the soup using one of these methods:
  • Use a food mill positioned over a large bowl, discarding dry pulp
  • Carefully blend using an immersion blender
  • Use a standard blender, working in small batches

Blend until soup reaches a smooth, velvety consistency.

Step 4: Serve With Flair

Gently reheat soup if needed. Pour into serving bowls. Enhance with optional garnishes:
  • Finely sliced fresh basil leaves
  • Crunchy croutons

Enjoy your luxurious homemade tomato soup!

Expert Hints for Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup

  • Select Peak-Ripened Tomatoes: Grab the most vibrant, sun-kissed tomatoes from your local market or garden. Their intense flavor becomes the heart of this soup's deliciousness.
  • Master the Vegetable Sauté: Transform onions and carrots into a flavor powerhouse by cooking them slowly until they're meltingly soft. This technique unlocks their natural sugars and creates a robust soup base.
  • Customize Your Soup Texture: Play with blending techniques to achieve your perfect consistency. Whether you prefer silky smooth or slightly rustic, an immersion blender gives you total control.
  • Prevent Cream Curdling Trick: Gently introduce cream over low heat, stirring constantly. This method ensures a luxurious, velvety finish without any unwanted separation.
  • Balance Flavors Like a Pro: Always taste and adjust seasonings just before serving. A pinch of salt or crack of pepper can elevate the entire soup from good to extraordinary.

Keep Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup Fresh

Store in glass containers to preserve the soup’s vibrant flavor and prevent plastic absorption. Carefully transfer the soup into clean, wide-mouth mason jars with tight-fitting lids, leaving about an inch of space at the top to allow for expansion during cooling.

Freeze individual portions in silicone freezer trays for quick, convenient meal prep. Pop out frozen soup cubes and transfer to labeled freezer bags, which helps prevent freezer burn and allows you to thaw exactly the amount you need.

Maximize freshness by cooling the soup completely before storing. Place the container in an ice bath, stirring occasionally to bring down the temperature quickly, then seal and refrigerate within two hours of cooking to maintain optimal taste and texture.

Creative Spins on Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup

  • Roasted Veggie Tomato Soup: Roast tomatoes, onions, and carrots in the oven before blending for deeper, caramelized flavors. This method intensifies the natural sweetness and adds a smoky undertone to the classic recipe.
  • Spicy Mediterranean Tomato Soup: Add red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and a splash of harissa paste for a zesty, warm kick. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley to enhance the Mediterranean profile.
  • Vegan Creamy Tomato Soup: Replace chicken stock with vegetable broth and use coconut cream instead of double cream. Blend in nutritional yeast for a rich, cheesy flavor without dairy, creating a plant-based version that's equally comforting.
  • Herb-Infused Tomato Soup: Experiment with fresh herbs like thyme, oregano, or rosemary during simmering. Swap basil for a different herbal complexity and top with herb-infused olive oil for an elevated, aromatic experience.

Parting Thoughts on Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup

Barefoot Contessa’s tomato soup emerges as pure culinary poetry, blending rustic charm with sophisticated flavors.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients dance harmoniously, creating liquid silk on spoon surfaces.

Garden-fresh tomatoes whisper summer memories through each silky spoonful.

Classic techniques elevate simple ingredients into extraordinary comfort cuisine.

Garten’s signature style transforms humble produce into restaurant-quality magic.

When hunger calls and soul needs nurturing, this recipe promises delectable warmth – so grab your ladle, share this masterpiece with friends, spark conversation, double-tap that screen, and spread soup love across digital landscapes.

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Barefoot Contessa Cream Of Fresh Tomato Soup Recipe

Barefoot Contessa Cream Of Fresh Tomato Soup Recipe


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4.6 from 38 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Barefoot Contessa’s cream of fresh tomato soup delivers rich Mediterranean flavors with garden-fresh ingredients. Silky smooth and comforting, this classic recipe invites you to savor summer’s most delightful tomato harvest in one delectable bowl.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1.8 kg (64 oz) vine-ripened tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 700 ml (23.7 fluid ounces) chicken stock
  • 1½ cups (225 g) chopped red onions
  • 2 carrots, unpeeled and chopped

Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:

  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) tomato purée
  • 1½ teaspoons caster sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) good olive oil

Finishing Ingredients:

  • 180 ml (6 fluid ounces) double cream
  • Croutons, to serve (optional)
  • Basil leaves, finely sliced (julienned), for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a spacious, sturdy pot, warm the olive oil over moderate heat. Introduce diced onions and julienned carrots, allowing them to soften and caramelize gently for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
  2. Incorporate minced garlic and sauté for an additional 60 seconds until fragrant, releasing its aromatic essence into the cooking vegetables.
  3. Pour in chopped tomatoes, granulated sugar, tomato paste, fresh basil leaves, chicken broth (473 milliliters / 16 fluid ounces), kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Thoroughly mix the ingredients, ensuring even distribution.
  4. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, reducing heat to low. Allow the soup to cook uncovered for 35-40 minutes, letting the flavors meld and tomatoes break down completely.
  5. Remove the pot from heat and stir in heavy cream (240 milliliters / 8 fluid ounces), creating a rich, smooth texture.
  6. Using an immersion blender or standard blender, carefully purée the soup until silky and uniform. If using a standard blender, work in batches and ensure the lid is secured with a towel to prevent hot liquid splashing.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Ladle the soup into warmed serving bowls. Garnish with thinly sliced fresh basil and optional crispy croutons for added texture and visual appeal.

Notes

  • Harvest peak-season tomatoes bursting with sun-ripened sweetness for maximum flavor depth.
  • Transform vegetables into flavor powerhouses through slow, caramelizing sauté techniques that unlock natural sugars.
  • Control soup consistency by experimenting with blending methods, from silky smooth to rustic chunky textures.
  • Incorporate cream gently, creating a luxurious silken finish without risking unwanted separation.
  • Elevate final taste profile through strategic seasoning, allowing individual ingredients to sing harmoniously.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 130
  • Sugar: 7g
  • Sodium: 980mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Carbohydrates: 11g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 25mg
Isabella Rodriguez

Isabella Rodriguez

Co-Founder & Content Creator

Expertise

Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning

Education

Le Cordon Bleu Paris

  • Diploma: Grand Diplôme®
  • Focus: Intensive training in classic French cuisine and pastry techniques, combining the Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie.

Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.

At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.

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