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Creamy Valentine’s Tomato Heart Soup Recipe with Crispy Croutons

Valentine’s Tomato Heart Soup - featured image
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This creamy tomato soup is velvety, comforting, and easy to make with pantry staples. Topped with adorable heart-shaped crispy croutons, it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, family dinners, or whenever you need a cozy bowl of love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for croutons)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans whole peeled tomatoes (or 1 (28 oz) can)
  • 2 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (or coconut cream for dairy-free)
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves (or 1 tablespoon dried basil)
  • 1–2 teaspoons sugar, to taste
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 4 slices day-old bread (about 1/2-inch thick, any sturdy bread)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted unsalted butter (for croutons)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 small clove fresh garlic, grated)
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (optional, for croutons)
  • Kosher salt, to taste (for croutons)

Instructions

  1. Prep the veggies: Dice onion, peel and chop carrot, and mince garlic.
  2. Prep the bread: Slice bread into 1/2-inch slices. Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts (about 4-6 per slice).
  3. Make croutons: Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss bread hearts with 3 tbsp olive oil or melted butter, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp parmesan (if using), and a pinch of salt. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy. Let cool.
  4. Start soup: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and carrot; sauté 4-5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  5. Add tomatoes and simmer: Add tomatoes (with juice), breaking them up with a spoon. Add broth, basil, sugar, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer, cover partially, and cook 18-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Blend soup: Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth, or let cool slightly and blend in batches in a countertop blender. (Never fill blender more than halfway with hot liquid.)
  7. Finish: Return soup to pot if needed. Stir in cream. Warm gently over low heat (do not boil). Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or sugar as needed.
  8. Serve: Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with 3-5 heart croutons. Garnish with extra basil or a swirl of cream if desired.

Notes

For vegan or dairy-free, use coconut cream and olive oil, and skip parmesan or use a vegan cheese. For gluten-free, use gluten-free bread for croutons. Taste and adjust sugar to balance acidity. Soup can be made ahead and tastes even better the next day. Freeze before adding cream for best texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: tomato soup, Valentine’s Day, creamy soup, heart croutons, comfort food, easy soup, vegetarian, family dinner

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/creamy-valentines-tomato-heart-soup-recipe-with-crispy-croutons/