Tomato basil soup taste the best when you use your homegrown tomatoes from your garden. I love tomato soup it reminds me of fall and winter in Ohio. Coming home from school to a hot bowl of soup and toast. Simple but oh so good.
Where do I buy my tomatoes?
Using fresh ingredients like tomatoes from the local farmers market or from your own backyard and fresh basil will ensure you get the most flavor from your dish. I love using my tomatoes but if you don't have a garden source yours from a local farmer. You will get the freshest tomatoes and support your local economy a win win.
What type of tomatoes do I use in tomato basil soup?
I used Burpee® celebrity tomatoes for this soup but you can use whatever you have on hand or in your garden. Tomato varieties are numerous 700+ at last count. I would recommend picking the one you like the best and going from there. I also would say try a few different varieties to see if one makes a better soup to you than another. I prefer celebrity tomatoes to other brands myself because they tend to be sweeter flavored.
Where do you buy fresh basil?
I grow basil on my window sill but when I am running low or starting a new bunch, I go to one of my local farmer's markets and I always get the freshest vegetables and herbs. Support your local community farmers or barter with someone who is growing it. If you have tomatoes and they have basil you are both in business 🙂 Enjoy.
What do I eat with tomato soup?
I love having tomato soup with a nice grilled cheese sandwich. My wife should not eat dairy cheese anymore so we went on a hunt for a good non-dairy cheese that would melt and taste good. Our pick is Daiya brand because it melts and it tastes great. What are your favorites?
Another great side for tomato basil soup is my famous copycat cheddar bay biscuits from Red Lobster®. This copycat recipe is so good you will want to eat them all. I did lol. I had to make more of them so the family could taste them and they ate them all also. These biscuits are a welcome treat for any carb lover and will satisfy your need to dip when the bowl is almost empty.
Where do I find Soup recipes?
40+ Healthy Soup Recipes
Instant Pot Recipes
BLUE PLAN: 2 Points
GREEN PLAN: 2 Points
PURPLE PLAN: 2 points
Instant Pot® Tomato Basil Soup
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 large stalk celery, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 c. chicken or vegetable stock
3 lbs. fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
½ c. fresh basil leaves, julienned (+ extra for garnish)
Instructions
*Add additional chicken or vegetable stock to achieve the desired consistency.
Directions:
Select the “Sauté” function on the Instant Pot® and add olive oil once hot. Add onion, celery, and carrots and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and vegetables develop some color, approximately 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
Pour in stock and deglaze the bottom of the pot, gently scraping up any brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon in the process. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes before turning the unit off.
Add tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, and rosemary, and stir to combine. Add lid and lock into place. Position the vent to “Sealing” and set the “Manual” setting to 4 minutes.
When cook time is complete, allow pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure. Remove lid and stir in fresh basil leaves.
Carefully transfer tomato mixture to a food processor or high-powered blender and process until smooth. (For chunkier results, use an immersion blender instead).
To serve, transfer soup to individual bowls while still hot and garnish with additional fresh basil, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
*Add additional chicken or vegetable stock to achieve the desired consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes