Description
Barefoot Contessa’s roasted tomato basil soup delivers robust Mediterranean flavors with simple, fresh ingredients. Luxurious garden tomatoes roasted to caramelized perfection create a silky smooth experience you’ll savor down to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs) ripe plum tomatoes, halved lengthways
- 1 x 800g (28 oz) tin plum tomatoes, with juice
- 1 litre (4.2 cups or 33.8 fl oz) chicken stock (or water)
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 large yellow onions (about 400 g or 14 oz), chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 100 g (3.5 oz) fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon sea salt flakes
- 1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed chilli flakes
Fats and Oils:
- 90 ml (3 fl oz) good-quality olive oil, divided
- 30 g (1 oz) unsalted butter
Instructions
- Prepare for roasting by heating the oven to 392°F (200°C) or 356°F (180°C) for fan-assisted ovens. Drizzle fresh tomatoes with olive oil, sprinkling with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Spread tomatoes cut-side upward on a single layer across a baking sheet, ensuring they are not overlapping. Roast for approximately 45 minutes until edges become beautifully caramelized and slightly wrinkled.
- While tomatoes roast, warm a large stockpot over medium heat. Add remaining olive oil and butter, then introduce finely chopped onions, minced garlic, and crushed chili flakes.
- Gently sauté the aromatics, stirring periodically, allowing onions to soften and develop a light golden color, which should take around 8-10 minutes.
- Pour in canned tomatoes with their natural juices, followed by fresh basil leaves, thyme sprigs, and chicken stock. Transfer the roasted tomatoes and their accumulated pan juices into the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat to create a gentle simmer. Allow the soup to develop its flavors, uncovered, for roughly 40 minutes.
- Transform the soup’s texture using either a food mill with its coarsest blade for a rustic consistency or an immersion blender for a silky-smooth finish.
- Taste and fine-tune seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve piping hot or refreshingly chilled, accompanied by crusty artisan bread or crisp croutons.
Notes
- Blend tomatoes while warm to enhance natural sugars and release deeper flavors.
- Experiment with different herb combinations like thyme or oregano for unique taste profiles.
- Reserve some roasted tomato chunks to create textural contrast in the smooth soup.
- Garnish with crispy pancetta or toasted pine nuts for unexpected crunch and richness.
- Cool leftovers quickly and store in airtight containers for maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 216
- Sugar: 13.3g
- Sodium: 1,460mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7g
- Carbohydrates: 30.7g
- Fiber: 2.7g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg