Best Healthy Tomato Soup Recipe

The humble tomato is filled with nutrients and antioxidants that help combat numerous diseases as well as keep you healthy. And best of all, it's delicious. Add it a stew or a sandwich, or eat it as it is - no matter how you consume it, it will always bring joy to your heart (literally and metaphorically). But the best way to eat tomatoes is by making it to tomato soup.

Tomato soup is a soup made with tomatoes as the primary ingredient. It can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference. Some tomato soup recipe make it smooth in texture, but other include chunks of tomato, cream and chicken or vegetable stock. To finish off, it is usually topped with sour cream or croutons. In the US, the soup is frequently served with crackers, which may be crumbled onto the soup.

Health benefits of tomato soup

Because tomatoes are healthy, that makes tomato soup healthy. And here are some health benefits of eating tomato soup:

• It is rich in Vitamin K and calcium that help with bone health
• The high level of Vitamin C provides arterial protection, which makes it perfect for cardiovascular health.
• Packed with lycopene, which neutralise oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
• It contain selenium that promotes good blood circulation that prevent anemia.
• It has high concentration of copper that helps boost the nervous system.
• It is also rick in Vitamin A that is required for tissue development, perfect for newborn cells.
• It is rich in water and fiber, which makes you full for longer time, making it a perfect food for diet and weight loss.
• It contains antioxidants like lycopene and caretenoid, making it a cancer-fighter.
• Research has also suggested that it helps with male fertility.
• It is also perfect for diabetic because it contains chromium, a mineral that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Tomato soup recipe

Tomato soup also comes in canned form. But nothing beats a homemade tomato soup, which just so happen, we have a recipe for.

Ingredients

• 1 onion
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled & finely chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled & coarsely grated
• A handful of fresh basil, leaves picked from stalks
• 6 tbs olive oil 
• Double cream 1 tsp
• Red wine vinegar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 kg super ripe tomatoes
• 2 pints chicken or vegetable stock
• Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Put your onion, garlic, carrot and basil stalks into a large pot with some olive oil. Cover the pan and simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes.
2. Whisk together the cream, vinegar and egg yolks in a small bowl and put to one side. 
3. While the vegetables are simmering, drop the tomatoes into boiling water for 30 seconds, then remove the skins and roughly chop the flesh.  Add these to the veg pot, then pour in the stock and simmer for a further 20 minutes with the lid on.
4. Leave to cool a little then puree the soup. Bring back to a simmer and season carefully with salt & pepper.
5. Just before serving, whisk in the cream mixture, but do not let it return to the boil.
6. Serve straight away sprinkled with a few torn up basil leaves. Enjoy!

For more healthy soup recipes, check out our recipe section.