Ina Garten’s Creamy Tomato Bisque Recipe for Chilly Days

Creamy tomato bisque represents the ultimate comfort food for souls craving warmth and rich, velvety textures.

Smooth and luxurious, this classic soup transforms humble ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that whispers sophistication.

Each spoonful promises a harmonious blend of tangy and sweet flavors dancing across your palate.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients intermingle, creating depth and complexity rarely found in traditional soup recipes.

Robust aromatics like onions and shallots develop an intricate flavor profile that elevates this dish beyond simple fare.

Fresh tomatoes contribute bright, concentrated essence that resonates with pure, unadulterated deliciousness.

Your next dinner will shine with this extraordinary soup that promises pure, comforting magic:

What Makes Ina Garten’s Tomato Bisque So Creamy & Rich

• Savor Rich Flavor Complexity: This bisque delivers an extraordinary depth of taste through carefully layered ingredients like saffron, crushed red pepper flakes, and multiple dairy elements that create a luxurious sensory experience.
• Enjoy Creamy Comfort Technique: The slow sautéing of aromatic vegetables and gentle simmering method transforms simple ingredients into a velvety smooth soup that feels like a warm culinary hug, perfect for relaxing meals.
• Craft Gourmet Restaurant-Quality Dish: Despite seeming complicated, this recipe allows home cooks to easily replicate professional-level results with minimal technical skills, using accessible ingredients and straightforward cooking steps that guarantee impressive outcomes.
• Experience Versatile Seasonal Delight: Whether served as a cozy winter lunch or elegant starter for dinner parties, this tomato bisque adapts wonderfully to different occasions, offering a sophisticated yet comforting dish that appeals to diverse palates.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Creamy Tomato Bisque

• Yellow Onion: Aromatic foundation with sweet, mild flavor for depth.
• Shallots: Delicate, subtle onion flavor that adds complexity to the soup.
• Leek: Mild, elegant allium that provides gentle herbaceous undertones.

• Crushed Tomatoes: Rich, concentrated tomato flavor that forms the soup's primary profile.

• Whole Milk, Heavy Cream: Creamy base that creates luxurious texture and smooth mouthfeel.

• Unsalted Butter, Olive Oil: Provides rich flavor and helps sauté vegetables evenly.

• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing overall taste.
• Saffron Threads: Luxurious spice that adds golden color and subtle exotic flavor.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces gentle heat and warmth to the bisque.

• Parmesan Cheese, Fresh Parsley: Adds sharp, salty finish and fresh green brightness.

How to Simmer Ina Garten’s Tomato Bisque

Step 1: Prepare Cooking Base

• Unsalted butter
• Olive oil

Melt together over medium-low heat until combined.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

• Yellow onion
• Shallots
• Leek

Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables become soft and translucent.

Step 3: Build Soup Foundation

• Crushed tomatoes
• Whole milk
• Heavy cream
• Saffron threads
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Stir all ingredients until well mixed.

Step 4: Develop Rich Flavors

Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Leave uncovered and cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring periodically. Watch for thickening and blending of flavors.

Step 5: Finish and Garnish

Remove pot from heat. Sprinkle in additional salt and pepper. Ladle into serving bowls. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Serve immediately while steaming hot.

Bisque Tips for Smoothness and Balance

• Select Premium Tomatoes: San Marzano varieties offer superior sweetness and lower acidity, transforming your bisque into a restaurant-quality soup.
• Master Slow Vegetable Sautéing: Gently cook onions, shallots, and leeks over medium-low heat to unlock their natural sugars without scorching, creating a rich flavor foundation.
• Embrace Saffron's Magic: Add a pinch of this luxurious spice to elevate the bisque's complexity, introducing a subtle yet distinctive aromatic dimension.
• Prevent Burning While Simmering: Stir frequently to distribute heat evenly, preventing ingredient scorching and ensuring a smooth, consistent texture throughout the soup.
• Customize Your Texture: Use an immersion blender to achieve your desired consistency, from rustic and chunky to silky and refined, tailoring the bisque to your preference.

How to Keep Tomato Bisque Fresh and Tasty

• Freeze Smartly: Divide cooled bisque into portion-sized freezer containers, leaving one inch of space for expansion. Label each container with the date and contents. This method preserves flavor intensity and prevents freezer burn, maintaining the soup's creamy texture for up to 3 months.
• Refrigerate Strategically: Transfer cooled bisque to glass or ceramic containers with tight-sealing lids. Store immediately in the coldest part of the refrigerator, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days. Always use clean utensils when scooping to prevent bacterial contamination.
• Reheat Carefully: Warm bisque slowly in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Add a splash of fresh cream or broth if the soup seems too thick during reheating.

Switch Up the Tomato Bisque with These Ideas

• Roasted Vegetable Bisque: Roast onions, shallots, and leeks with garlic before adding to the soup for deeper, caramelized flavors and enhanced sweetness.
• Spicy Chorizo Tomato Bisque: Add crispy chorizo sausage pieces during serving for a rich, smoky protein boost and extra heat.
• Mediterranean Herb Infusion: Replace saffron with fresh basil, oregano, and thyme to create a lighter, more herbaceous tomato soup experience with Mediterranean undertones.
• Coconut Cream Bisque: Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free alternative that brings subtle tropical notes and creamy texture to the classic recipe.

Final Sip of Ina’s Comforting Tomato Soup

Ina Garten’s Creamy Tomato Bisque emerges as culinary poetry, weaving comfort and sophistication into each spoonful.

Mediterranean ingredients dance through this silky symphony, creating rich layers of flavor that whisper gourmet elegance.

Complex yet approachable, this recipe transforms simple pantry staples into an extraordinary experience.

Saffron threads and red pepper flakes provide subtle complexity, elevating the classic tomato soup into a memorable gastronomic journey.

Ina Garten Creamy Tomato Bisque Recipe

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4.8 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s creamy tomato bisque brings rustic Italian comfort straight to your kitchen. Rich roasted tomatoes blend with cream and herbs, creating a silky soup that warms hearts and satisfies souls with its elegant simplicity.

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Ingredients

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Tomato Base:

• 3 tablespoons / 45g unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon good olive oil
• 1½ cups / 225g chopped yellow onion (1 large)
• ¾ cup / 120g chopped shallots (2 large)
• 1 cup / 150g chopped leek (white and light green parts, spun-dried)
• 3 (28-ounce / 800g) cans crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano

Dairy and Cream:

• 4 cups / 950ml whole milk
• 2 cups / 475ml heavy cream

Seasonings and Garnish:

• ½ teaspoon saffron threads
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Grated Italian Parmesan cheese, for garnish
• Minced fresh parsley, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Prepare the base by gently melting unsalted butter (45 grams) with olive oil () in a spacious 11 to 12-inch pot or Dutch oven over medium-low temperature.
2. Create a flavor foundation by introducing chopped yellow onions (225 grams or 1½ cups), diced shallots (120 grams or ¾ cup), and sliced leeks (150 grams). Allow vegetables to soften and become translucent, stirring periodically for 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Enhance the soup’s depth by incorporating crushed tomatoes (3 cans of 800 grams or each), whole milk (950 milliliters), and rich heavy cream (475 milliliters). Infuse with aromatic saffron threads (½ teaspoon), red pepper flakes (¼ teaspoon), kosher salt (), and freshly ground black pepper (1½ teaspoons).
4. Elevate the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and allow the soup to simmer uncovered. Let the ingredients meld and thicken for 30 to 40 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent scorching and ensure even cooking.
5. Finalize the seasoning by removing from heat and introducing additional kosher salt () and black pepper (½ teaspoon). Ladle into serving bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and finely chopped parsley for a vibrant presentation.

Notes

• Saffron transforms this bisque with its luxurious golden color and complex flavor profile, adding depth beyond ordinary seasoning.
• San Marzano tomatoes deliver exceptional sweetness and low acidity, elevating the entire soup’s taste experience.
• Slow-cooking vegetables over gentle heat develops rich caramelized undertones that create a more nuanced base.
• Frequent stirring during simmering prevents scorching and helps ingredients meld seamlessly together.
• Blending with an immersion blender creates silky smooth texture, turning rustic ingredients into elegant culinary art.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 454g)
• Calories: 280
• Sugar: 19g
• Sodium: 990mg
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 29g
• Fiber: 6g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 60mg