Essex County Field Tomato Soup

Capture the essence of summer with this comforting and vibrant Essex County Field Tomato Soup, a recipe that showcases the pure, sun-ripened flavor of fresh field tomatoes. Featuring a harmonious blend of garden-fresh ingredients like sweet carrots, aromatic garlic, and fragrant basil, this soup is simmered to perfection and pureed for a velvety finish. A touch of cream can be added for indulgent richness, but it's equally delightful in its pure, plant-based form. This wholesome tomato soup is easy to prepare and pairs beautifully with slices of crusty bread, making it an ideal dish for cozy weeknight dinners or elegant lunch gatherings. Perfect for highlighting the best of summer produce, this recipe is a must-try for tomato lovers and home cooks alike!

Nutriscore Rating: 81/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 medium (about 2.5 lbs) fresh field tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large (diced) yellow onion
• 4 cloves (minced) garlic
• 1 medium (peeled and diced) carrot
• 2 sticks (diced) celery stalks
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 10 leaves fresh basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup heavy cream (optional)
• 4 slices crusty bread (for serving, optional)

Directions

Step 1

Begin by preparing the tomatoes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut a small X on the bottom of each tomato, then blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds. Transfer to an ice bath and peel off the skins. Core and roughly chop the tomatoes.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened and translucent.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic, diced carrot, and diced celery to the pot. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.

Step 4

Stir in the chopped tomatoes, vegetable broth, fresh basil leaves, dried thyme, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Step 5

Remove the pot from the heat. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Alternatively, you can carefully transfer the soup in batches to a countertop blender and blend until smooth. Return the blended soup to the pot.

Step 6

If desired, stir in the heavy cream and heat gently over low heat for a creamy texture.

Step 7

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper as needed.

Step 8

Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with a drizzle of olive oil or a fresh basil leaf if desired, and serve warm with crusty bread on the side.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(5159.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2194.0

Total Fat 73.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 23.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.5g
Cholesterol 66.8mg	0%
Sodium 6074.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 342.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 65.0g	0%
Total Sugars 127.4g
Protein 74.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 721.0mg	0%
Iron 23.2mg	0%
Potassium 11063.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 28.3%

Protein: 12.7%

Carbs: 58.9%