BEST Orange Basil Tomato Soup

Enjoy a bowl of Best Orange Basil Tomato Soup any time of year. Delicious served with a grilled cheese sandwich. Serve with Crème fraîche, bacon, chives!

Friends, don’t you just feel that people around us are craving fellowship? Especially if you have a heart for hospitality, you can really sense this need. And I’m reminded all the time, when I create a dinner, or dinner board (or charcuterie board, even for a appetizer), my main focus and goal is to bring people together.

Best Orange Basil Tomato Soup

Inspired by our neighbor, Carma, who invited our family of 5 over for a simple soup night, she made a delicious Orange Basil Tomato Soup that we can’t get out of our heads.

The soup was so lovely, the bread so warm, the wine paired perfectly, our families of 9 sat around a long skinny table and shared stories for hours.

Start with a big pot (we love LeCreuset), which honestly makes the soup taste better :)

Dish it up into your favorite bowls. And serve!

You may have already tried my Coconut Milk Tomato Mixed Seafood Soup or Smoked Tomato Bacon Soup (so good). Here’s my friend Amy’s recipe for easy tomato soup loaded with tiny Acini di Pepe pasta.

Happy fall season!

It’s official. Yesterday was the first day of fall. I always love a new season, as it just feels fresh, like the first day of the month, or clean sheets on the bed, or a perfectly cleaned house (that stays clean for about 30 minutes!). This season, I’m going to open my heart and mind to showing more love and compassion. It’s hard to be there for everyone, but it’s easy to be mindful of the moment, the space we are in for this season, and our surroundings.

How to make Tomato Soup

1. Saute onion, garlic, and carrots. Add tomato paste, stock, orange juice and zest, crushed tomatoes, basil, and salt and pepper to taste.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. When liquid has reduced, transfer to a blender and puree, or use a hand blender to puree.
3. When soup is smooth, fold in the heavy cream.
4. To serve, garnish with chives, bacon, and fresh croutons.

It’s not about us

A simple story, this happened to my husband and me at church recently. We have a meet and greet for 5 minutes during the first part of the service, where you chat with the people around you. It’s hard as an introvert, but the extroverts love it (hand raised here, no hand raised for my hubby – ha). We sat behind a couple about the same age as us (maybe a bit older, but you never know). When we all stood to MEET & GREET, they turned to us for a split second, and then turned around to the couple in front of them to chat for 5 minutes. It was actually funny, as my husband and I saw it unfold, and we chuckled, and just started talking to each other for 5 minutes.

My lesson is this. It’s not about us. My feelings aren’t hurt that this couple did not engage with my husband and me. It just made me more aware of people around me.

We definitely take hospitality with us. We can make people feel warm and welcomed wherever we go. I never want to forget this, or be rude to people, or ignore. I want to be aware. And smile, and love, and listen.

Orange Basil Tomato Soup

Fall time is a beautiful season for hosting. It’s a wonderful time to invite people into our homes for cozy, casual meals.

It’s a season very sweet to our souls. A wonderful time to get to know a new family.

Make my Orange Basil Tomato Soup, and warm up some bread in the oven. Make a big green salad.

This is a delicious meal that everyone loves.

It’s really not about making sure everything is perfect. It’s about gathering together, eating the same foods, and fellowshipping.

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Get the Recipe:

Orange and Basil Tomato Soup

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 37 minutes mins

Total Time: 57 minutes mins

Yield: 8

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Ingredients

 

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• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 4 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 1 heaping cup basil, roughly chopped
• 2 tsp orange zest
• 2 Tbsp orange juice
• 1 ⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 1 28-oz. can whole, peeled whole tomatoes in juice, crushed with hands or potato masher
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• To Garnish
• Crème fraîche
• Bacon
• Chives

Instructions

 

• Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. When oil is hot, add onion, garlic, and carrots. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until onions are translucent and carrots are soft. Add in tomato paste and cook for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the stock, orange juice and zest, crushed tomatoes, basil, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. When liquid has reduced, transfer to a blender and puree, or use a hand blender to puree. When soup is smooth, fold in the heavy cream.
• To serve, garnish with chives, bacon, and fresh croutons.

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

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