******* BREAKING NEWS: I have been so overwhelmed at the response to this post and all the people who have told me that they LOVE this recipe because it is so easy & delicious so I decided to start an Instagram account (like today) dedicated to bringing you simple recipes that can be made quickly with only a few ingredients! I would love for you follow me there! Find me on IG as @easyfamilyrecipes*******
So if you have been reading The Pinning Mama for any length of time, you probably know that we L-O-V-E Panera! They have so many really yummy things. What we love even better though, is cracking the code to make their super yummy food at home. As a matter of fact, our all time biggest post has been our Panera Chocolate Chip Cookie Copycat, and we also have a delicious Double Chocolate Chip Muffie Top Copycat. Today though, is epic. I am sharing one of my all time Panera favorites, a copycat recipe for their Creamy Tomato Basil Soup.
With winter STILL in full force around the country, I think it is the perfect time to curl up on the couch with a piping hot bowl of creamy tomato basil soup. And Panera’s is fabulous. It is rich and thick. It is smooth and creamy. It is pretty much the tomato soup lover’s heaven!
The absolute best part about this soup is that it is extremely easy to make. You do not have to spend days laboring in your kitchen peeling tomatoes and chopping garlic. As a matter of fact, you can make one quick trip to the store and then whip this soup up in about 15 minutes right on your very own stove top! That’s my favorite kind of recipe, the kind that tastes like it took hours, days, years, to make, but really it was super easy!
So after your trip to the store, the rest is easy! Combine your tomatoes, broth, and garlic in a pot and let boil for 10 minutes. This recipe is perfect for our crock pot chicken broth! The can of diced tomatoes give it the same chunky texture that they serve at Panera. If you prefer a smooth texture you can use two cans of crushed tomatoes instead of one of each. Also, in a pinch I have used a can of whole tomatoes that I crushed with a fork and then added.
Next, turn the heat down to low and stir in the sugar and butter, stirring until everything has melted and dissolved and is well mixed.
After it is combined, stir in your chopped basil. You can use more or less depending on size but 15-20 leaves is a good estimate of what I use.
The next step needs to be done very carefully and takes either a little bit of coordination or a little bit of help. Pour in your heavy cream extremely slowly with one hand while mixing continuously with the other. By pouring it slowly while mixing you allow it to fully combine and achieve a really creamy and wonderful soup. If you get excited and just pour in all of the cream at once, it can separate and make a not horrible, but definitely not as wonderful texture. Trust me… do it slowly, it is worth the wait!
Now, if you are a freezer cooking junkie {which I am,} then you will be thrilled to know that this recipe freezes beautifully. I often double the recipe so I can freeze an entire batch! Just prepare the soup as directed, let cool, and then put into a tupperware or gallon sized bag or two and freeze. To reheat, place in a pot over medium until warmed through on the stove top, or my favorite way, just microwave for 6-10 minutes stirring each minute until heated through.
As promised! Quick and easy! And if you serve this with a big fat grilled cheese sandwich, you might just make all the worries in the world disappear. At least for as long as lunch lasts! This is one of my all time favorite recipes and I hope will be one of yours too! Make sure and check out all of our other tasty recipes here and follow us on Facebook and Pinterest to keep up with all of the new and super delicious recipes we post!
If you like this soup then you will love this Creamy Lemon Chicken soup recipe. It is just asquick and easy and every bit as delicious.
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Ingredients
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp crushed garlic
- 1 14 oz can chicken broth {or 2 cups}
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 15-20 Basil leaves chopped
Instructions
Combine the tomatoes, broth, and garlic bring to a boil and let boil for 10 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the sugar and butter and mix until they are dissolved, melted and well combined.
Very slowly pour in the heavy cream while simultaneously stirring until all the cream is combined and the soup is creamy.
Stir in the basil.
I like to serve it hot garnished with a dollop of pesto and freshly grated parmesan cheese!
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
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FAQs
Detailed Ingredients
Tomatoes (Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Citric Acid), Water, Heavy Cream, Onions, Contains 2% or less of: Butter (Cream, Salt), Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Spices), Corn Starch, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic and Nisin Preparation.
What is Panera tomato soup made of? ›
Detailed Ingredients
Tomatoes (Tomatoes, Tomato Puree, Citric Acid), Water, Heavy Cream, Onions, Contains 2% or less of: Butter (Cream, Salt), Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Spices), Corn Starch, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic and Nisin Preparation.
Is Panera tomato basil soup healthy? ›
The Creamy Tomato Soup provides 8 grams of saturated fat—62% of the American Heart Association's daily recommendation. And since just 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein are all this soup has to offer, it's not a very balanced choice.
What's the difference between creamy tomato soup and tomato soup? ›
But what about cream of tomato soup? Any “cream of” soup, tomato included, is pureed like a normal soup but then goes through a “creaming” process, wherein cream is added to the mixture. Cream of tomato soup is actually cooked at a much lower temperature than normal tomato soup.
Why do you put baking soda in tomato soup? ›
When you add baking soda to tomato soup (or sauce, or chili), it neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes. Not only will this make the tomatoes taste less acidic (good news if your tomatoes turned out more sour than you expected), but it also means that you can now add milk to your soup without risking curdling it.
Does Panera tomato soup have cream in it? ›
Vine-ripened pear tomatoes pureed with fresh cream for a velvety smooth flavor accented by hints of red pepper and oregano and topped with black pepper and sea salt croutons.
Does Panera make their own soup? ›
That Soup Isn't Made In-House
It may taste homemade, but that Panera soup wasn't actually prepared by the workers at your local shop. "The soups are made at a factory/plant/etc., flash-frozen, shipped to us, and we thaw it out in what's called a thermalizer, essentially a soup-thawer," says one former employee.
What is the healthiest soup at Panera Bread? ›
#SpoonTip: For a full list of Panera's nutrition facts, be sure to check out their complete nutrition guide.
- Black Bean Soup. Calories: 140 Fat: 2g Carbs: 40g Protein: 7g. ...
- Low-Fat Chicken Noodle Soup. ...
- Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice Soup. ...
- Vegan Lentil Quinoa Broth Bowl. ...
- Soba Noodle Broth Bowl with Chicken.
Tomatoes themselves are a good source of fiber and have a low glycemic index (GI), which means that they are less likely to cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. However, many tomato soups contain added sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, which can all raise blood sugar levels.
Why do you put milk in tomato soup? ›
This addition helps make the soup feel more comforting. Adding milk or cream to a soup can balance contrasting tastes and help ingredients that don't typically mesh blend seamlessly. Plus, the extra calories in milk or cream can make for a more filling soup served solo and without any accompanying sides.
To thwart the curdling tendency, changing procedures will render a smooth tomato soup. Heat the tomato mixture and cream separately, then slowly add tomatoes to the cream near the end of the cooking process. Once mixed, heat the mixture gently to 180 degrees. Do not boil.
How do you thicken creamy tomato soup? ›
Start by using 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water. More cornstarch slurry can be added, but be sure not to add too much. Only mix in a small amount of slurry at a time to ensure that your soup will thicken properly. Using corn starch is a fast, effective way to thicken soup.
Why does my homemade tomato soup taste bitter? ›
That bitterness could be acid from the tomatoes and one way people typically fix that is by adding a small amount of sugar.
What does adding sugar to tomato soup do? ›
A small amount of sugar can help round out the flavor, while too much can make it overly sweet and potentially ruin the dish. Adding sugar may also reduce the acidity in a soup, making it taste less acidic.
What can I add to tomato soup to make it taste better? ›
18 Must-Try Toppings for Your Tomato Soup
- Pretzels!
- Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish® Crackers.
- Pumpkin Seeds.
- Croutons.
- Tortilla Strips.
- Cheese.
- Avocado.
- Sour Cream.
All in all, it is what it is: a basic and straightforward tomato soup. It would pair well with melty grilled cheese—and Panera serves a rather tasty one.
What does tomato soup contain? ›
Traditional tomato soup
A simple tomato soup can be prepared simply with ingredients such as canned tomatoes/tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, vegetable broth or chicken broth and for the flavouring butter, salt and pepper or if required sugar can be used.
What does Panera Bread tomato soup taste like? ›
About This. Vine-ripened pear tomatoes pureed with fresh cream for a velvety smooth flavor accented by hints of red pepper and oregano and topped with black pepper and sea salt croutons.
Does Panera use quality ingredients? ›
We aim to craft food that our guests not only crave but can also feel great about eating because of the high-quality ingredients. We believe good food is generous to all: our guests, associates, supply partners, and the planet.
