Indian Style Creamy Tomato Soup
What could be more comforting than a bowl of hearty tomato soup with the right amount of tanginess, sweetness, creaminess and a secret ingredient to give it that perfect crunch – the bread croutons? Cream of tomato soup is much loved worldwide, but the Indian-style version of the dish is my personal favourite. It has the flavour of – bay leaf, ginger, garlic, onion, and fresh cream. There is a hint of earthiness and spiciness to balance the acidic taste of the tomatoes. It is a one-pot, gluten-free, vegetarian soup that is easy to make at home.
Fresh Tomato vs Canned
This is a fresh tomato soup recipe. In India, a bowl of perfect tomato soup is always prepared with fresh, juicy tomatoes. Try to use the best available local variety of lush and ripe tomatoes to make this soup. However, you can use canned tomatoes as well to make the soup. Taste the canned tomatoes and adjust the seasoning accordingly.
Recipe Variations
There are tons of tomato soup recipe variations. Each region has its particular favourite version of this soup recipe. Vegetables: Along with tomato for taste and creamy texture, you can add – carrot, potato, sweet potato, squash, onion, cauliflower, or leek. Or you can add green leafy vegetables like kale, swiss chard, baby spinach, or bok choy to make the soup more wholesome. Herbs: Fresh herbs like – basil, thyme, sage, and cilantro work like a charm in a tomato soup. Flavours: You can make a delicious bowl of tomato soup by adding unique flavouring ingredients – garlic, ginger, bay leaf, cumin, celery, or red chillies. Vegan: To make a vegan tomato soup replace ¼ cup dairy cream with coconut milk, or you can add 1 – 2 potatoes for the desired creaminess. Gluten-Free: This is a gluten-free soup. I have not used any thickening agent to get a creamy texture. Instant Pot: To make tomato soup in an instant pot, use saute mode for 5 minutes and then pressure cook mode for 5 minutes. Blend the soup in the instant pot itself. Set saute mode for 5 minutes, add remaining ingredients, stir, and the soup is ready.
The Bread Croutons
For me, bread croutons are the highlight of this Indian-style tomato soup. Who else remembers fighting for extra croutons as a child while slurping the delicious soup? Those fried bits of bread were probably never as tempting and gratifying to when served with a bowl of homemade soup. Here I am sharing two methods to make bread croutons from scratch at home: Stovetop Method: Any kind of sandwich bread is good enough to make croutons. Start by removing the edges of the bread slices. Cut each slice of bread into bite-size squares or cubes. Heat 2 – 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan. Once the oil is heated, add the bread cubes, gently toss and fry till they turn light brown in colour and crisp. Transfer to a plate, sprinkle a little salt and black pepper. Enjoy your favourite soup. Oven/Baking Method: Grease a large baking tray with olive oil. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celcius. Combine salt, thyme, red chilli flakes, extra virgin olive oil, and chopped garlic cloves in a bowl. Whisk nicely. Pour this dressing over the bread cubes and gently toss. Evenly, spread the bread cubes on a greased baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven for 5 – 10 minutes or until light brown in colour and crisp.
My Tried & True Tips
Ideally, butter is used to make tomato soup. The slightly sauteed butter gives a sweet taste to the soup. However, you can use olive oil as well. Avoid adding too much liquid to the soup else you will not get a thick consistency. Allow the tomatoes to release their juices before adding any liquid. Never, ever forget to sieve the blended soup. Else the texture of the soup will not be smooth and silky. Vegetable stock is always better than plain water to cook the soup ingredients. It makes the soup way more flavoursome and delicious. If the tomato soup is too tart…balance the acidity or tartness by adding sugar or tomato ketchup. You can increase the quantity of cream as well. If the tomato soup is too liquid…add a cornstarch slurry or any other thickening agent to get the desired consistency. Simmer the soup till it is thick enough, taste and adjust the seasoning.
Watch Tomato Soup Video
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