Oven-Baked Tomato Soup – Simple, Healthy, and Full of Flavor!

Oven-Baked Tomato Soup: Simple, Healthy, and Full of Flavor!

There's nothing quite as comforting and wholesome as a delicious bowl of tomato soup. But what if we told you there's a way to unlock even deeper, richer flavors with minimal effort? This incredible oven-baked tomato soup recipe is not only simple to make but also incredibly healthy and bursting with the vibrant taste of fresh tomatoes and aromatic herbs. Get ready to transform your perception of homemade soup and discover a new favorite for your kitchen!

The Magic of Roasting: Intensifying Tomato Flavor

The secret to this soup's extraordinary flavor lies in roasting the tomatoes. By baking them in the oven, their natural sweetness caramelizes, and their savory notes intensify, creating a depth of flavor that simply can't be achieved by cooking on the stovetop alone. This simple technique elevates the entire dish, making every spoonful a rich and satisfying experience.

Gathering Your Wholesome Ingredients

To create this flavorful soup, you'll need just a few fresh, high-quality ingredients:

• 1 kg tomatoes (approximately 2.2 pounds), halved or quartered
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped oregano
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped basil
• 6 to 8 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon coconut blossom sugar (optional, for a touch of sweetness)
• 300 ml tomato juice, 100% (1¼ cups)

Crafting Your Oven-Baked Masterpiece: Step-by-Step

1. Preparing Your Tomatoes for Roasting

Start by taking 1 kg of fresh tomatoes and slicing them in half or quarters. These will be the foundation of your incredibly flavorful soup. Next, finely chop 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano and 1 tablespoon of fresh basil. These herbs will infuse the tomatoes with a wonderful aromatic quality during roasting. Peel and smash 6 to 8 cloves of garlic; the roasting process will mellow their pungency and bring out their sweet side.

Combine the prepared tomatoes, chopped oregano and basil, and smashed garlic in a baking dish. Drizzle generously with 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, then season with 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Gently toss everything together to ensure the tomatoes are evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.

2. Roasting to Perfection

Place the baking dish into a preheated oven at 200 °C (392 °F) using top/bottom heat. Bake for 20 minutes. During this time, the tomatoes will soften, release their juices, and caramelize slightly, developing that deep, concentrated flavor that is key to this soup. The aroma filling your kitchen will be absolutely delightful!

3. Blending and Simmering Your Soup

Once roasted, carefully transfer the warm, burst tomatoes and all their flavorful juices from the baking dish into a pot. If you desire a touch of natural sweetness to balance the acidity of the tomatoes, stir in 1 tablespoon of coconut blossom sugar. Pour in 300 ml (1¼ cups) of 100% tomato juice, which will add extra body and tomato intensity to your soup.

Bring the mixture to a brief boil, stirring gently. Then, using an immersion blender or by carefully transferring to a stand blender, blend the soup until it reaches your desired consistency. You can make it silky smooth or leave it slightly chunky for more texture. Finally, taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed, ensuring the flavors are perfectly balanced.

Serving Suggestions: The Perfect Accompaniments

This oven-baked tomato soup is wonderful on its own, but it truly shines when paired with delicious accompaniments. Serve your warm, aromatic soup with toasted bread cubes or crispy fried bread—just as you like it. A garnish of fresh basil leaves can add a final touch of brightness and herbaceousness. This simple, healthy, and flavorful soup is a comforting hug in a bowl, perfect for any time of year.

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