Go Back
Panera-Style Creamy Tomato Soup
Rachel Kim

Panera-Style Creamy Tomato Soup

The chain-style version is sweeter and smoother than a rustic tomato soup, but it shouldn't taste like pasta sauce with cream. Carrot supplies quiet sweetness while baking soda softens the tomatoes' harsh edge. Blend completely, then add cream at the end.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 medium carrot diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 cans crushed tomatoes 28 oz each
  • 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven and cook the onion and carrot over medium heat for 8 minutes until very soft.
  2. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
  3. Add the crushed tomatoes, broth, sugar, salt, baking soda and black pepper and simmer for 25 minutes.
  4. Blend the soup until completely smooth using an immersion blender.
  5. Stir in the cream and warm over low heat for 5 minutes without boiling.
  6. Check that the soup reaches 165°F and adjust the thickness with up to 1/2 cup additional broth.