Simple Tomato Soup with Balsamic Vinegar
Growing up I ate a lot of condensed tomato soup and grilled cheese. To this day it is such a comfort food to me. My mom always made it with a combination of milk and water and I love the creamy counterpart to the acidity of the tomatoes. What I didn’t realize was how much sugar was in there.
Most tomato soup recipes I have found call for sugar. I just can’t bring myself to put sugar into a warm pot of soup. That being said, my taste buds distinctly remember the sweetness found in that old bowl of comfort. My solution: balsamic vinegar. Yes, it’s acidic, but also sweet. The result is not the tomato soup you grew up on, but perhaps a more sophisticated and definitely more nourishing version. It is also really simple to make and easy on the budget. And it’s still ultra comforting.
Tomato Soup with Balsamic Vinegar
Recipe notes: I stir creme fraiche into individual bowls for the creamy flavor. You could easily substitute a bit of cream, preferably raw of course :).
Ingredients
6 cups water
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
black pepper to taste
5 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
creme fraiche, sour cream or cream for serving
Directions
In a medium sauce pan bring water to a simmer. Whisk tomato paste in until smooth. Turn heat to medium-low. Season with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and balsamic vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning according to your taste.
To serve, fill bowls and add a tablespoon of creme fraiche, sour cream or cream and stir through. Enjoy while piping hot.
we just had grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for dinner last night. Not homemade though. I buy the Pacific Natural brand kind, probably not as good as yours though : )
for the sake of time, I have been buying the Ezekial 4:9 bread – are you familiar with this bread?
Lots like you have some wonderful recipes here! I am glad to come across your site after you emailed me. It is always a blessing to here from others on the same journey to natural living. Blessings to you dear sister!
This looks good and easy. Never used balsamic vinegar in soup, but it makes sense.
I’ve been thinking about tomato soup and grilled cheese this week as it’s been bitterly cold. Like you, I find comfort in that meal because of my fond memories from childhood.
Wow! That is simple, natural, and nourishing 🙂 Have you tried using beef or chicken stock in place of the water? I wonder if that would alter the taste too much….I would love to try this, though!
Grilled cheese is so comforting….since we are gluten free we’ve had to forego that treat. Oh well! Thanks for the recipe!
Denise – I have heard of (and tried) Ezekiel bread. It is great from the standpoint of it being sprouted grains. And I would buy this over non-sprouted any day. The one downside is that it contains soy – which contains phytoestrogens and is a goitrogen.
Do you have a Trader Joe’s near you? They sell soy-free sprouted breads and a delicious whole wheat sourdough.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup…does anything else say ‘comfort food’ as well? I’m going to try your recipe. It sounds delicious!
That soup looks so good. Thanks for the recipe. My son loves tomato soup.Do you make your own creme fraiche? I lived in France and the U.S. version of this is just not the same due to raw milk laws. This soup will be made in our home this week- it is soooo cold here!
Oh my. We LOVE tomato soup and grilled cheese around here. It’s a winter staple. I’ve been looking for a great homemade recipe and VOILA! can’t wait to try!
When I make tomato soup, I call it, “ketchup soup” – for some odd reason, this makes it more appealing to the kids! What a great idea to use the Balsamic!
Kelly
WOW! This soup is so terrifically simple. I had a million projects going on tonight (including making croutons out of my failed first attempt at homemade bread) and it was perfect. Hungry kids, hungry husband, hungry me, and this soup, with some croutons and parmesan totally fit the bill. Whipped it up in less than ten minutes and everyone’s happy. 🙂 I did increase the garlic and onion powder a bit, though. We tend to like stronger flavors.
Next time, I’m trying your garlicky tomato soup. That sounded delicious!!!
I might try a drop of Stevia My Mother put sugar in anything with tomatoes Not healthy but she lived through the Great Depression.