Super-Quick Fresh Tomato Soup

Too many tomatoes? This vibrant soup based on a traditional Tuscan recipe is a far, far cry from the canned stuff: you can throw it together in practically no time but it offers a bowlful of lycopene-rich goodness and fresh tomato flavor along with good-for-you garlic and olive oil. Even my tomato-hating son loves it, this soup has become a family favorite.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups chopped yellow onions
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons maple syrup or organic sugar
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4 cups ripe tomatoes, chopped, including their juices, or you could use organic canned tomatoes
2 cups good-quality vegetable broth
Sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 slice bread, lightly toasted, per serving (optional)

1. In a heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium heat, cook onions in 1/4 cup olive oil for around 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent. Add vinegar, sweetener, and garlic and continue to cook for 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant and softened but not browned.

2. Add tomatoes and their juices. Simmer mixture 10 minutes, then add broth and return mixture to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Tear basil leaves in pieces and add to soup.

3. Place toasted bread, if using, in the bottoms of individual bowls. Ladle soup on top, drizzle with a little olive oil, and serve.

Serves 4 to 8.

Read more: Food, All recipes, Soups & Salads, tomato soup

By Cait Johnson

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Teresa W.

4:33AM PDT on Apr 20, 2012

thank you

send a green star

Kath R.

4:17AM PDT on Apr 20, 2012

Sounds delicious and easy to make....thanks!

Jennifer C.

1:27AM PDT on Sep 14, 2011

Yummy! The recipe sounds delicious and mouth-watering. Thanks for sharing.

KayL N.

8:45PM PDT on Jul 31, 2010

Sounds yummy. I'm definitely going to try to adapt this (switching the harder to get special sugars and raw herbs to the regular stuff in the grocery store)....

kaye w.

2:40PM PDT on Jun 1, 2010

A real bowl full of sunshine.

Zarka M.

1:58PM PDT on May 31, 2010

wow, sounds delish, i m gonna try this instead of the regular cambell's

AM L.

11:21AM PDT on May 28, 2010

This soup is simple to make and looks like one I will make many times. Thank you.

Judith C.

1:03AM PDT on Mar 19, 2010

Healthy soup - I would skip adding the sugar though..