30-Minute Tomato Basil Bisque

Name: 30-Minute Tomato Basil Bisque
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 23 oz Canned Whole Peeled Tomatoes (in Puree or crushed in puree); 1 Bundle Fresh Basil Leaves (1 cup basil leaves loosely packed); 1 Small Yellow onion (roughly chopped); 2 Cloves Garlic (roughly chopped); 1 Quarts Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth); 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream; 2 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 2 Tablespoon Butter; 2 Teaspoons Salt (to taste); 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper (to taste)

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This tomato basil bisque is rich and silky. With canned tomatoes, broth, fresh basil, and some heavy cream, this simple soup tastes like it has been simmered all day, but it takes just 30 minutes to have a warm wholesome dinner for your family.

Bowl of tomato bisque with side of grilled cheese in front of soup pot

I always gravitate towards tomato bisque when I'm ordering lunch out. It feels like such a treat to have delicious warm soup and a fancy sandwich. This tomato basil soup recipe captures the beautiful flavors using simple ingredients. It does not ruin the treat by taking all day and making a huge mess.

Contents hide

Make this Recipe, because...

Ingredients

How to Make Tomato Basil Bisque

How to Serve

Storage and Reheating

FAQs

Related Recipes

📖 Recipe

30-Minute Tomato Basil Bisque

Make this Recipe, because...

Using canned tomatoes saves loads of time.

Adding chicken or vegetable broth helps the soup develop full flavor without starting from scratch.

Fresh Basil, onions, and garlic adds a punch of flavor.

Heavy whipping cream takes away the acidity of the tomatoes and makes this bisque velvety and rich.

Ingredients

Whole Peeled Canned Tomatoes- When you buy whole peeled tomatoes they will be either Roma Tomatoes or San Marzano tomatoes. Both are types of plum tomatoes The low water content gives the richer flavor.

Fresh Basil Leaves- It is ideal to use fresh basil for this recipe, but I have used dry or freeze dried basil as well. It is possible to get a really nice flavor with dried herbs. You typically use half the amount of fresh, but it may take some adjustments after tasting to get the amount just right.

Heavy Cream- This cuts the acidity of the tomatoes, adds sweetness, and smooths out the texture of the bisque.

How to Make Tomato Basil Bisque

Step 1: Sauté

Heat your large pot on medium heat.
Once it is hot, add butter and olive oil to the pan. Melt butter and mix together with olive oil.
Next, add roughly chopped onions to the pot and sauté until the onions are translucent.
Add the chopped garlic to the pot and let it warm through. Season with salt and pepper.
Turn off the heat.

Step 2: Blend

Blending with a regular blender

Place the sautéed onions and garlic into the blender with canned tomatoes and basil leaves.
Place the lid on and blend on high until completely smooth. If the mixture is too thick add a small amount of broth to the blender, and blend on high until smooth.

side by side of unblended and blended ingredients

Blending with an Immersion Blender

An Immersion blender can be used right inside the pot on the stove top.
Make sure the heat is off. Add canned tomatoes, basil leaves, and broth to the soup pot.
Place the immersion blender into the pot. Make sure the end of the wand is fully submerged and then blend until smooth.

Do not blend hot liquid. Splashes of hot liquid an be very dangerous.

Step 3: Simmer

Bring the pot of blended tomatoes up to a low simmer.
Let it simmer on medium low heat for 10 minutes.
Then, add heavy cream and stir.
Simmer the tomato basil bisque for another 10 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.

simmering tomato bisque with cream added

How to Serve

You can add toppings to this delicious creamy soup for extra pop and texture. Try…

A Drizzle of Basil Oil
A Drizzle of Cream
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Croutons or Crostini (toasted bread slices)
Fresh Cracked Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes

Serve with a dinner salad, garlic bread, or a classic grilled cheese sandwich.

If you want to take it up a notch or two, try these Hot Italian Sub Sliders. Stacks of Italian deli meat, garlic aioli, and homemade muffuletta make a sandwich dreams are made of.

Warm soup bowls in the oven before serving. Turn the oven on warm or 175°. Place the bowls in the oven while the soup is cooking. Serving creamy tomato bisque in a warm bowl will help the soup stay hot longer.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to five days.

Freeze for up to six months. The best way to freeze is to place in a food storage bag. Lay it flat in the freeze. Once it is solid it can be turned on its side or stacked with other items frozen this way and takes up very little space.

Bring cold bisque to a simmer in a small pot to reheat.

It can be reheated in the microwave was well. Use a microwave safe bowl, and cover with a paper towel to avoid splatter. Heat on high for 1 minutes. Stir and heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the bisque is evenly heated.

FAQs

What is the difference between tomato basil soup and tomato basil bisque?

While a traditional bisque is made with a seafood stock, modernly, blended soups with added cream are called bisques. So this tomato bisque is really just a creamy tomato basil soup.