Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with Cheesy Toast Dippers

Tomato basil soup grew from Italian kitchens where ripe tomatoes meet fragrant herbs in a simple pot. This creamy take blends slow-simmered tomatoes with heavy cream and fresh basil, paired with golden cheesy toast dippers made for dunking.

Serves 4 · 15 min prep · 35 min cook

Estimate for one serving

• 390 cal
• 14g protein
• 38g carbs
• 22g fat
• 5g fiber

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Ingredients

• 2 (28-oz) cans canned whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 medium carrot
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 loaf baguette
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

1. 1Dice the onion and carrot and mince the garlic. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat.
2. 2Add onion and carrot and cook 6–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent and the carrot begins to soften.
3. 3Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook 1 minute until the paste darkens slightly and smells sweet.
4. 4Pour in the whole tomatoes with their juices and the vegetable broth; use a wooden spoon to crush the tomatoes against the side of the pot.
5. 5Add sugar, salt, and pepper, bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover partially, and cook 20 minutes so the flavors meld and the vegetables are fully tender.
6. 6Remove from heat. Stir in the fresh basil. Carefully blend the soup with an immersion blender until completely smooth (or work in batches in a countertop blender, venting the lid).
7. 7Return the pot to low heat, stir in the heavy cream, and warm through 2 minutes without boiling. Taste and adjust salt.
8. 8While the soup finishes, slice the baguette into ½-inch thick pieces, top with mozzarella and Parmesan, and broil on a sheet pan 2–3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with the cheesy toast dippers on the side.