Roasted Tomato Soup With Crispy Croutons (Printer-friendly)

Vibrant velvety roasted tomato soup topped with golden homemade croutons for ultimate comfort.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Roasted Tomato Soup

01 - 3.3 lbs ripe tomatoes, halved
02 - 1 large onion, quartered
03 - 4 cloves garlic, peeled
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp salt
06 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1 tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
08 - 2 cups vegetable broth
09 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
11 - ¼ cup heavy cream or coconut cream (optional, for creaminess)

→ For the Crispy Croutons

12 - 4 thick slices day-old bread, cut into ¾ inch cubes
13 - 2 tbsp olive oil
14 - ½ tsp garlic powder
15 - ¼ tsp salt
16 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Arrange the halved tomatoes, onion quarters, and garlic cloves on a large baking tray. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme. Toss gently to coat.
03 - Roast for 30–35 minutes, until the tomatoes are caramelized and the onions are soft.
04 - While the vegetables roast, prepare the croutons: In a bowl, toss bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread on a lined baking sheet and bake (can share the oven with the tomatoes) for 10–15 minutes, stirring once, until golden and crisp. Set aside.
05 - Transfer the roasted tomatoes, onion, and garlic to a large saucepan. Add vegetable broth, tomato paste, and sugar (if using). Bring to a simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes.
06 - Use an immersion blender (or transfer in batches to a blender) to purée the soup until smooth. For extra creaminess, stir in the heavy cream or coconut cream. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top generously with crispy croutons. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasting process transforms ordinary tomatoes into something extraordinary and deeply savory
  • Those homemade croutons add such a satisfying crunch that you will never want store-bought again
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
  • Do not rush the roasting step, those dark spots on the tomatoes are what make this soup special
  • Let the soup cool slightly before blending to avoid splashing hot liquid everywhere
  • The croutons can be made days ahead and stored in an airtight container
03 -
  • Use the ripest tomatoes you can find, they will concentrate in flavor during roasting
  • If your soup seems too thick after blending, add more broth a little at a time
  • A drizzle of really good olive oil on top right before serving makes it feel restaurant special
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