Creamy Tomato Bisque

Tomato Bisque is creamy, silky smooth, tomato-based soup, a variation on the classic tomato soup. This bisque is easy to make, uses pantry staples, and comes together in no time!!

Two of my favorite tomato soup, are the traditional tomato soup, without any cream, and the tomato bisque, with some touch of cream. Both have a unique flavor and texture. Pairs well with some grilled cheese.

TOMATO BISQUE

Bisque is a French-style creamy soup made with tomatoes and cream. This soup is so easy to make and with simple pantry ingredients, you can make this delicious soup, great for busy weeknights or even for entertaining.

I make this soup quite often and I and my family devour this soup. This soup is a hit in my family, my kids always go for seconds, and thirds. The best part about this soup is that even though it is a cream-based soup, the cream is not overpowering. I find it a nice, rich tomato soup, with the perfect balance of flavors from the tomatoes and the cream.

When tomatoes are in season, I use fresh tomatoes to make this tomato bisque. Sometimes, I also roast these tomatoes, to bring out the bold flavor of the tomatoes. Roasting the tomatoes also helps bring out the natural sweetness in the tomatoes.

Today, I am using canned diced tomatoes, as that's what I have in hand. Good quality diced tomatoes are a key to this delicious tomato bisque.

I prefer organic diced tomatoes, however, feel free to use tomatoes of your choice. You can also use fire-roasted canned tomatoes, for a bold flavor in the bisque.

The best part about this soup is that you can make it as rich as you like, use heavy cream, half and half, evaporated milk, or even milk to keep it lighter, still, it tastes so good. This soup is easily customizable and can be made vegan, just skip the dairy and use any plant-based milk substitute such as almond milk, cashew milk, or even coconut milk or coconut cream tastes great. How cool is it??

Pic Shown: Tomato Bisque

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOMATO SOUP AND TOMATO BISQUE

Tomato soup and tomato bisque, both are made with tomatoes as the main ingredient. 

Tomato soup can be made in many different ways and may be served hot or cold. It may be smooth or chunky in texture. Tomato soup uses chicken or vegetable broth. Typically, tomato soup does not have any cream. The soup is thickened using a roux, or with cornstarch.

Bisque is a cream-based soup made with vegetables or seafood, where pre-cooked ingredients are pureed along with some cream to get a nice smooth, velvety texture soup. We love the vegetarian version of bisque such as squash, tomato, mushroom, or red pepper bisque.

Today, I am sharing my recipe for this delicious, creamy, velvety texture Tomato bisque, using pantry ingredients. Thus, keeping it simple, and flavorful. I like to serve this Tomato bisque with some grilled cheese sandwich or some homemade croutons.

INGREDIENTS FOR TOMATO BISQUE

(2)  14.5 ounces can diced tomatoes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium carrot, diced

2-3 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons white rice, uncooked

3 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter, unsalted

salt & pepper, adjust to taste

⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, adjust to taste

1 teaspoon brown sugar or honey, adjust to taste

¼ cup heavy cream, half-n-half, evaporated milk, or milk (optional)

¼ teaspoon baking soda (optional), as needed

FOR GARNISH

a handful of fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

cream

croutons

Pic Shown: Tomato Bisque

HOW TO MAKE TOMATO BISQUE

Sharing a quick and easy recipe to make this luscious Tomato bisque using pantry ingredients. I love to make this bisque in Instant Pot, however, you can also make this on the stovetop. Please refer to the post later for - STOVETOP TOMATO BISQUE

INSTANT POT TOMATO BISQUE

Turn ON the sauté mode (more), when it displays "HOT", add oil, and butter.

Add onion, garlic, and carrots. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

Add tomatoes, rice, cayenne pepper, some salt, and black pepper to taste. 

Add broth, and mix well. Close the Instant Pot lid, pressure value on sealing.

Turn the Manual / Pressure Cook (high) for 10 minutes.

After the Instant Pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally, around 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, manually release the remaining pressure.

Open the Instant Pot. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup to a smooth consistency.

Note: You can also blend the soup in a blender jar in batches.

Turn ON sauté mode (more). Add cream (optional), sugar, or honey to taste, and bring it to a gentle boil.

Adjust seasoning - salt and pepper as per taste. Turn OFF the sauté mode.

Garnish with some fresh basil, and drizzle some cream or croutons.

Tomato bisque is ready to be devoured. Enjoy!!

Pic Shown: Instant Pot Tomato Bisque

STOVETOP TOMATO BISQUE

Heat a Dutch oven or a soup pot, and add oil and butter.

Add onion, garlic, and carrots. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

Add tomatoes, rice, cayenne pepper, some salt, and black pepper to taste. 

Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until rice is cooked and tomatoes are soft.

Remove the pot from the heat. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup to a smooth consistency.

Note: You can also blend the soup in a blender jar in batches.

Return the pot to the stove. Add cream (optional), sugar, or honey to taste, and bring it to a gentle boil.

Adjust seasoning - salt and pepper as per taste. Turn OFF the heat.

Garnish with some fresh basil, and drizzle some cream or croutons.

Tomato bisque is ready to be devoured. Enjoy!!

PRO TIPS FOR THE BEST TOMATO BISQUE

TOMATOES - fresh or canned tomatoes, both work great in this recipe. You can use whole, diced, or crushed canned tomatoes. 

GARLIC - I prefer fresh garlic, it adds a ton of flavor to this bisque. Feel free to use garlic powder, will work.

BROTH – low sodium broth adds layer of flavor. Low sodium broth helps control sodium intake. You can also use a bouillon, mix it with water as per package instructions and use it.

RICE - any variety of white rice would work in this recipe. Rice helps give this soup a nice creamy consistency without adding a whole lot of cream. The starch in the rice also helps thicken the soup without adding any cornstarch. I used long grain rice for this recipe.

CREAM (OPTIONAL) - add cream at the end to avoid any curdling of the cream. You can use heavy, half and half, evaporated milk, or even regular milk to suit your taste. 

Depending upon the amount of cream added to the bisque, the color of the bisque will vary.

For VEGAN - Skip the dairy and add any natural, plant-based milk such as almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, or cream.

SUGAR OR HONEY - helps balance the flavors, adjust to your taste. I prefer honey or brown sugar. You can use any sweetener of your choice.

BAKING SODA - though I have not used it in the recipe. Sometimes tomatoes are quite tangy. Adding baking soda to bisque neutralizes the acid in the tomatoes. Thus, making the bisque taste less acidic or sour, and also preventing the cream from curdling when added to the soup.

If the bisque turns out to be tart, add a ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, mix well and bring a soup to a boil.

VARIATIONS TO THIS DELICIOUS TOMATO BISQUE

TOMATO BISQUE WITH FRESH TOMATOES

Blanch the tomatoes in hot boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Remove and place the tomatoes in ice water. Peel the tomatoes and use them in the recipe.

ROASTED TOMATO BISQUE

Roasting the tomatoes brings about their natural sweetness and bold flavors in the tomatoes.

Cut the fresh tomatoes in half, and arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet. Toss them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast the tomatoes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.

When they are done, peel the skin and use the tomatoes in the recipe.

LIGHTER VERSION OF BISQUE 

Use half-n-half, evaporated milk, or regular milk to keep it light.

SUGAR SUBSTITUE

You can use any sweetener of your choice to balance the flavors in the soup. Honey, maple syrup, or preferred sweetener, work just fine.

VEGAN TOMATO BISQUE

Skip the dairy and add any natural, plant-based milk such as almond milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk.

Pic Shown: Tomato Bisque

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY ADD RICE

Rice helps give this soup a nice creamy consistency without adding a whole lot of cream. The starch in the rice also helps thicken the soup without adding any cornstarch. Thus, making the soup light and creamy.

HOW TO THICKEN BISQUE

There are few ways to thicken the soup as follows:

REDUCE THE BISQUE

Let the bisque simmer for some time, until the soup thickens to the desired consistency.

ADD CORNSTARCH SLURRY

Take equal portions of cornstarch and water, mix it and gradually add this slurry to the bisque. Cook until the soup thickens.

HOW TO MAKE BISQUE VEGAN

Skip the dairy and add any natural, plant-based milk such as almond milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk.

Instead of butter, use vegan butter or oil.

HOW TO SERVE BISQUE

Just before serving the bisque, I like to garnish the bisque with a drizzle of heavy cream, and some finely shredded basil leaves.

Creamy, flavorful tomato bisque pairs well with classic French bread, grilled cheese sandwich, some homemade croutons, or even salads. Enjoy!!

Pic Shown: Tomato Bisque

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