Recipe: Hearty Tomato Basil Soup – A Comforting Classic

Start by finely chopping the onion and mincing the garlic cloves. Set aside. Wash and roughly chop the fresh basil leaves. Open the cans of whole tomatoes.

In a large pot, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring frequently to prevent it from burning.

Add the whole tomatoes to the pot, including their juice. Using a wooden spoon, break the tomatoes into smaller pieces. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Allow the soup to cook for 20 minutes, letting the flavors meld together.

Using an immersion blender, blend the soup directly in the pot until smooth. Alternatively, carefully transfer the soup to a blender and blend in batches. Return the soup to the pot if using a blender.

Stir in the chopped basil and optional heavy cream into the blended soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the soup simmer for another 5 minutes before serving.