Tomato basil soup with grilled cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It’s the perfect meal for a cold day or when you’re feeling down. The soup is warm and comforting, and the grilled cheese is cheesy and delicious.
Step-by-Step Recipe for Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
Ingredients:
• 3-4 beef steak tomatoes or 4-5 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 sweet onion, quartered
• 1 whole head of garlic
• 1 red bell pepper
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary
• 1 package Boursin cheese (any flavor)
• 1 cup avocado or grapeseed oil
• Generous pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 – 14 oz can of tomato purée
• 1 – 28 oz can of fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 3 tbsp butter (Finland or Kerrygold)
• 1.5 cups heavy cream or half and half
• Your favorite seasonings, salt, and pepper
• Drizzle of heavy cream, grilled cheese, and fresh basil for serving
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat and Roast
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. On a baking sheet, place your roughly chopped tomatoes, quartered sweet onion, whole head of garlic, and red bell pepper.
3. Drizzle them generously with avocado or grapeseed oil.
4. Sprinkle a generous pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper over the vegetables.
5. Roast the vegetables in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until they develop a beautiful caramelized color.
Step 2: Blend to Perfection
6. Once the roasted ingredients have cooled slightly, remove the roasted garlic cloves from their skins and discard the rosemary and thyme sprigs.
7. Transfer all the roasted vegetables to a blender.
8. Puree the mixture until it’s smooth and fragrant. This forms the flavorful base of your soup.
Step 3: Incorporate the Cheese
9. Remember that package of Boursin cheese? Add it to your blended mixture in the blender.
10. Blend again until the cheese is fully incorporated, giving your soup a velvety richness and a hint of herbs.
Step 4: Melt Butter and Add Cream
11. In a large pot, melt three tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
12. Pour the blended mixture into the pot.
13. Stir in 1.5 cups of heavy cream or half and half.
14. Keep stirring until everything is well combined and heated through. This is when your soup takes on its signature creamy texture.
Step 5: Season and Serve
15. Before serving, take a moment to season your soup to taste with your favorite seasonings, salt, and pepper.
16. Serve your Homemade Tomato Basil Soup hot with a drizzle of heavy cream, a side of grilled cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh basil for a delightful and comforting meal
Tips for Making the Best Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese
- For a richer flavor, use roasted tomatoes instead of canned.
- If you don’t have heavy cream, you can use milk instead.
- To make the soup vegan, omit the Parmesan cheese and use a plant-based milk.
- To make the soup vegetarian, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- To make the soup spicier, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- For a crispier grilled cheese, spread butter on the outside of the bread before cooking.
- Cook the grilled cheese over medium heat so that the bread has time to cook through and the cheese has time to melt.
- Serve the grilled cheese immediately with tomato basil soup for the perfect comfort meal.
Grill Cheese tutorial
- To make the grilled cheese, spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Place one slice of bread, butter-side down, in a skillet over medium heat.
- Place the cheese on the slice of bread in the skillet.
- Top with the other slice of bread, butter-side up.
- Cook the sandwich for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Cut the sandwich in half and serve with tomato basil soup.
Next time you’re looking for a warm and satisfying meal, give this tomato basil soup with grilled cheese a try!