Description
Smoky tomato basil soup marries Italian summer flavors with rich, deep roasting techniques. Robust vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil create a comforting bowl you’ll savor from first spoonful to last.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) ripe Roma or vine tomatoes, halved
- 3 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- ½ cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 small white onion, quartered
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tbsps butter (optional, for richness)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional, for extra smokiness)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- Parmesan cheese (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Smoker Preparation: Set up smoker at 225F, selecting aromatic wood chips like hickory, apple, or cherry to impart a nuanced smokiness.
- Vegetable Seasoning: Drizzle olive oil over halved tomatoes, onion, and garlic, generously seasoning with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes to amplify their inherent flavors.
- Smoking Process: Position seasoned vegetables on smoker grates or foil-lined baking sheet with cut sides facing upward, allowing smoke to penetrate and caramelize surfaces for 1.5 to 2 hours until tender and slightly charred.
- Puree Creation: Transfer smoked vegetables to blender, introducing fresh basil leaves to craft a silky, intensely flavored puree that captures the essence of the smoking technique.
- Soup Development: Combine pureed mixture in a large pot with vegetable broth and dried oregano, whisking in butter to create a luxurious, velvety soup base that melds complex smoky undertones with rich, comforting notes, simmering for 10-15 minutes to harmonize flavors.
Notes
- Optimize Wood Chip Selection: Choose mild, fruity wood chips like apple or cherry to complement tomatoes without overpowering their natural sweetness.
- Control Smoking Temperature: Maintain a consistent 225F to prevent burning and ensure even smoke penetration for balanced flavor development.
- Position Vegetables Strategically: Arrange cut-side up on smoker grates to maximize smoke absorption and achieve ideal caramelization without excessive charring.
- Balance Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes and smoked paprika carefully to enhance without overwhelming the delicate tomato and basil profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg