Name: Easy tomato soup with grilled cheese
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1½ kg (3lbs) Tomatoes (Use ripe, in season tomatoes or replace with whole canned tomatoes); 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 tsp salt; 2 red onions (finely chopped); 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped); ½ cup basil leaves; 2 tsp tomato paste; 8 cups vegetable / chicken stock; ½ cup cream; salt & pepper to taste; fresh basil leaves (to serve); 2 slices bread per person; 2 cups grated mozzarella; 2 cups grated mature cheddar; butter

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Easy roasted tomato soup served with a simple, extra-cheesy grilled cheese sandwich is comfort food personified. Served with a swirl of cream and fresh basil, it’s your childhood favorite all grown up.

There are few things that scream “home” and “comfort”as much as a bowl of creamy tomato soup served with a grilled cheese sandwich. The simple meal consists of ingredients we all have in our homes so it’s the kind of recipe I turn to often. Whether as a simple lunch for the kids or a family dinner, tomato soup is the answer. Perfect for feeding a crowd and exactly what I’m craving when the weather starts cooling down.

How to make homemade tomato soup

Roasting the tomatoes with aromatics before blending into the soup builds serious flavor. It’s a quick and easy step that means your soup goes from good to great. If you don’t have access to ripe, in-season tomatoes, using whole canned tomatoes are perfectly fine.
Flavor the soup with ingredients that compliment tomatoes. Balsamic vinegar, basil and garlic are always a good idea where tomatoes are concerned. A little sugar tempers the acidity of the tomatoes but is completely optional.
Cook onions, garlic and basil in a little olive oil or butter until soft and translucent. Add the roasted tomatoes to this base along with stock. Cook until all the ingredients are soft then blend. I like using an immersion blender but any blender will work. Season to taste with salt and black pepper and add some cream before serving.

How to thicken tomato soup

Allowing the soup to simmer and reduce will thicken it but if you want a thicker end result, mix 1-2 teaspoons of corn starch with a few teaspoons of water and stir into the soup. Allow to simmer until thickened. Alternatively, you can add some cubed potatoes to the onions and allow to cook completely. The blended potatoes will thicken the soup without the need for any additional thickeners.

Freezing and storing

To freeze: Always freeze before adding cream. Allow blended soup to cool to room temperature. Transfer to freezer-safe jars, containers or bags and seal. Freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw completely before adding the cream and reheating.
Make-ahead: This soup can be made up to 3 days ahead. Keep the chilled soup covered in the fridge and reheat over medium heat before serving.

Serving suggestions

There is no better side dish to tomato soup than a crisp and golden grilled cheese sandwich. However, any fresh bread will be good on the side.

Soup recipes

Easy tomato soup with grilled cheese

Easy roasted tomato soup served with a simple, extra-cheesy grilled cheese sandwich is comfort food personified. Served with a swirl of cream and fresh basil, it's your childhood favorite all grown up.

4.46 from 11 votes

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Course: Easy Dinner, Soup, Vegetarian

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Tomato basil soup, Tomato soup, Tomato soup recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings:

Calories: 307kcal

Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

1½ kg (3lbs) Tomatoes Use ripe, in season tomatoes or replace with whole canned tomatoes
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 red onions finely chopped
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
½ cup basil leaves
2 tsp tomato paste
8 cups vegetable / chicken stock
½ cup cream
salt & pepper to taste
fresh basil leaves to serve

for the grilled cheese sandwich

2 slices bread per person
2 cups grated mozzarella
2 cups grated mature cheddar
butter

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200°c.
Place the tomatoes (if using canned tomatoes, add all the juices as well) in a roasting tray and add the Balsamic, olive oil, sugar and salt. Stir to combine and place in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the tomatoes are broken down and have started to caramelize.
In a large pot, sauté the onions in some olive oil until they are translucent and fragrant. Add the garlic and basil and fry for another minute.
Add the roasted tomatoes and sugar. Stir to combine all the ingredients and pour in the stock.
Lower the heat and cover the pot. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and blend the soup.
Add the cream and season to taste.
To make the grilled cheese sandwiches, mix the mozzarella with the cheddar. Add ½ cup cheese to half of the slices of bread. Sandwich with the remaining bread. Butter both sides generously.
Cook in a non-stick pan, over medium heat until the cheese is melted and the sandwiches are golden brown on both sides.
Serve the tomato soup with a swirl of cream and fresh basil leaves with the grilled cheese.

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