A hearty & creamy Tuscan Tomato Soup with Rosemary Garlic Croutons that’s perfect for the fall and winter months!Filled with fresh veggies and herbs, this Italian recipe makes the best appetizer or meal.
Tuscan Tomato Soup with Rosemary Garlic Croutons
Ok, so alot of times I will make a recipe here or there from a cookbook or magazine. But for the most part I won’t share them on Joyful Healthy Eats because, well, I didn’t come up with the recipe.
But in this case.. I NEED to share it. It is too good not to share!
I don’t about you, but I have a “thing” aka.. obsession with Creamy Tomato Soup!
When its cold out, there is nothing more comforting to me then a hot bowl of Tomato Soup servedwith a Crunchy gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
I mean, can you have one without the other? I think not! Grilled Cheese is meant to be with Tomato Soup and thats that. Anyone else who protests is just plain crazy.
So when I was looking through the September edition of the Foodnetwork Magazine, this Tuscan Tomato Soup caught my eye.
First off, it was Tomato Soup which makes my heart skip a beat! YUM in the tum!
Secondly, it had white beans in it. Hmmmm… great creative way to make the soup creamy without adding dairy. Needless to say, I was intrigued.
Lastly, I had tons of rosemary in my backyard so I thought, what the heck. Let’s give it a try!
Holy Moly!!! So glad I went with my instincts on trying this one. So stinking good, and the Rosemary Garlic Croutons are a must with this soup.
They compliment the rosemary from the soup so perfectly and add a little texture to the dish which is always a good thing.
Plus the longer those flavorful croutons sit in the soup, the more their yummy flavors soak into the soup and the more the soup flavors soak into the croutons. Basically its one heck of an amazing union between bread and soup that you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
Flavor party in the mouth!!!
Plus it takes like 30 minutes to make, which is always a winner in my book!
This is one of those recipes you are gonna wanna tuck away in your back pocket the next time you’re thinking of making a Tomato Soup. So… go ahead and it now so you don’t forget! 🙂
Save your favorite recipes to your ownpersonal recipe box! Click the SAVE button in the recipe box below to create your own meal plans! Awesome-ness!
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Author:Krista
Prep Time:10 mins
Cook Time:25 mins
Total Time:35 mins
Yield:6-8 servings 1x
Category:Soup
Method:Oven
Cuisine:Italian
Print Recipe
Description
A hearty & creamy Tuscan Tomato Soup with Rosemary Garlic Croutons that’s perfect for the fall and winter months!Filled with fresh veggies and herbs, this Italian recipe makes the best appetizer or meal.
Ingredients
Scale
1 tablespoons of olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
2 lbs. of roma tomatoes, seeds removed, chopped
2 15 oz. cans of no-salt added white beans, drained & rinsed
1 quart low sodium vegetable broth
1 cup of water
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Rosemary Garlic Croutons:
4 cups of ciabatta bread, cubed
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400.
Heat a small pan to medium low heat, add 2 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 garlic cloves. Cook, stirring occasionally until garlic is lightly browned. {about 3-5 minutes}
Spread ciabatta bread out of baking sheet, pour garlic oil mixture on top, as well as fresh rosemary, fresh basil, and mozzarella. Toss to coat.
Bake for 10 minutes, until bread is lightly browned.
Remove from oven set aside.
In a large dutch oven or soup pot, over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, onion, and 3 garlic cloves. Saute for 5 minutes, until onions are translucent.
Add in tomato paste, cook, stirring for 1 minute.
Next add in all the tomatoes {minus 1/2 cup reserved for topping}, white beans, broth, 1 cup of water, rosemary sprig, red pepper flakes, and salt.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium for a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Discard the rosemary sprig. Puree everything with an immersion blender. {if you don’t have one then slowly add batches of the soup to a blender, puree and then return to pot.
Serve with croutons on top and a sprinkle of the freshly diced tomatoes.
Notes
Recipe slightly adapted from September 2014 edition of FoodNetwork Magazine
Parmesan – add shredded parmesan while the soup is hot so it melts over the top.Fresh Basil – sprinkle the top with thinly sliced basil. Croutons – sprinkle crunchy croutons over the soup. Toast – simple toasted bread or crostini (like we made for Bruschetta) are great for dunking into the soup.
- Adding baking soda to tomato soup and tomato sauces helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Tomato flavors really shine, and your sauce or soup will not curdle if you add milk. - Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to 1 cup of tomato sauce or soup will make flavors sparkle and become less acidic.
Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.
Adding cooked meat that's high in protein is an easy way to make canned tomato soup taste better and more filling. Chopped bacon pairs well with tomato soup for a BLT-esque soup, or try adding in crumbled ground meat like spicy sausage for some added flavor.
If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.
"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.
When Made With Milk, Tomato Soup Should Be Rich And Creamy. Not all soups are created equal. A soup made with milk is usually richer and more luxurious than one made with just water or stock. This addition helps make the soup feel more comforting.
Next - and this is important - in order to combat the acidity of the tomatoes add 3 to 6 tablespoons of sugar. Now, you'll want to start on the low side, then taste and add more as needed. Some tomatoes and juice have more of an acidic bite than others.
Tomato soup can be a bit thin, especially with the addition of cream at the end of cooking, so flour is added to the sautéing aromatics to thicken the soup.
It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.
If it tastes overly acidic or sharp, add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda. The soup will bubble and fizz wherever the soda lands as carbon dioxide is released. Give it a good stir to make sure the soda is fully spent; when the bubbles subside, taste again and add another quarter teaspoon if needed.
While both are delicious, they are quite different, especially when it comes to the texture. Tomato bisque is thicker and creamier in texture, and calls for the use of milk and/or cream.
Roast the onions and garlic before adding the tomato base can enhance the flavor, and adding a splash of balsamic vinegar or a drizzle of olive oil can also provide depth. You can experiment with adding a splash of lemon juice or a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
Always check seasonings and taste-test before serving. If the soup tastes bland at all, a bit more salt will do the trick, that doesn't just apply to this tomato soup recipe but just about anything you'll ever find yourself cooking.
This probably isn't a surprise, as basil and tomatoes are a delicious duo. But think beyond basil — rosemary and thyme can add earthiness; chives and parsley showered on top add a fresh finish; even freshly chopped mint (maybe with some feta cheese) can add a refreshing pop of flavor to every spoonful.
A tried-and-true method for reducing acidity in tomato-based dishes is to add a small amount of baking soda. Adding a pinch of baking soda can help neutralize the acid and make your tomato soup taste smoother. However, be cautious not to add too much, as it can alter the flavor of the soup.
Well, if you really want to amp up the taste of your tomatoes, cream of tartar is your answer. Yes, there are other ways to make your tomatoes taste even better and increase the acidity. There is lemon, vinegar, or my personal favorite, balsamic.
Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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