Turn Canned Tomatoes Into Creamy Soup With Oil And Garlic

One of the great evergreen comfort foods is a bowl of tomato soup. Beautiful fresh tomatoes, when simmered and pureed with a few aromatic ingredients, become an effortless and refreshing meal. But you shouldn't have to depend on fresh ingredients to make tomato soup on demand. Whether you're just craving a bowl of comforting soup or looking for the perfect companion to your grilled cheese, you need a fast-and-furious tomato soup recipe to turn to. 

Enter the humble can of tomatoes. This pantry staple is probably already lining your cupboard, waiting patiently to be transformed into something delicious. The only other ingredients you need to complete the dish (olive oil and garlic) are also pantry standards. Once cooked and blended together, this trio of ingredients becomes exactly the kind of soup you were craving. Creamy, aromatic, and tomato-rich, it's not only fast to prepare, but its simple base allows for endless customization. The best part about this easy soup? It's dairy-free, vegan, and incredibly decadent. 

To create this dead-simple soup, start by sautéing a few cloves of garlic in some olive oil. At this point, you could also add other aromatics, like diced onion, dried herbs, and ground spices, but it's not necessary. Next, reach for your trusty can of tomatoes. (Pro tip: while any plain canned variety will work, we suggest you use whole peeled tomatoes for the freshest flavor.) Because you're working with canned, you don't need to cook your tomatoes for long, 10 minutes max. At this point, you'll want to remove your soup from the heat and prepare to purée it with a standard or immersion blender.

Here's where things get magically creamy — as you blend, pour a 1/2 cup of olive oil in a steady stream. And as you do, you'll see the mixture take on a divinely smooth texture and orange color — without the help of dairy. The final step is to season with salt and pepper to taste. Perfect on its own or paired with your favorite grilled cheese, you can top it with an extra drizzle of olive oil or a handful of fresh herbs.