Roasted Garlic Tomato Basil (Printable)

A velvety blend of roasted garlic, ripe tomatoes, and fresh basil, perfect served warm.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 10 medium ripe tomatoes, halved
02 - 1 large head garlic, top sliced off
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
04 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced

→ Oils & Liquids

06 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
07 - 4 cups vegetable broth

→ Herbs & Seasonings

08 - 1 tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
09 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
10 - ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
11 - 1 large bunch fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano

→ Dairy (optional)

13 - ¼ cup heavy cream or coconut cream

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange tomatoes cut side up and the whole, sliced head of garlic on the baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - Roast for 35-40 minutes until tomatoes are caramelized and garlic is soft.
04 - While tomatoes roast, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 7-8 minutes until vegetables are soft and onions are translucent.
05 - Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into the pot. Add roasted tomatoes and any juices from the baking sheet, vegetable broth, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
06 - Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes to meld flavors.
07 - Add fresh basil leaves. Using an immersion blender or working in batches with a standard blender, purée the soup until smooth and creamy.
08 - If desired, stir in the cream. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with extra fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The roasting step creates depth that simmering alone never achieves
  • It comes together faster than you expect and tastes even better the next day
02 -
  • Let the roasted vegetables cool slightly before blending to avoid hot splatter
  • Adding the cream last prevents it from separating during the blending process
03 -
  • Don't rush the roasting step, those caramelized edges are where the magic happens
  • If using a regular blender, work in batches and never fill it more than halfway full

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