Healthy Tomato Basil Bisque
Tomato Bisque with big flavor and very little guilt! My Healthy Tomato Basil Bisque recipe has a secret ingredient that might surprise you.
What could possibly be more comforting than a cup of creamy tomato soup on a cold rainy day?
I’ve loved tomato bisque since childhood. It’s like an edible security blanket, that warms your insides and soothes your soul.
Yet now that I’m a little more cautious about what I eat, I’ve had to revamp my Tomato Bisque Recipe. Obviously the heavy cream was the issue. Most bisque recipes have 1-2 cups of cream to provide that ultra silky texture.
My secret weapon for omitting, or at least decreasing, heavy cream in creamy soups is… White beans.
That’s right.
I add white beans to the Healthy Tomato Basil Bisque while it’s simmering to absorb flavor, then puree the soup once cooked. The starch in the beans creates a wonderfully creamy texture without all the added fat. (I used this trick here as well.)
Now to be fully honest, the soup isn’t quite as smooth as a soup with loads of cream, and it doesn’t have the same sheen. But it’s pretty darn close, considering all the calories and saturated fat you omit.
For this Healthy Tomato Basil Bisque, the white beans did a superb job of creating the right thickness, then I added just a touch of heavy cream at the end to give it that extra touch of indulgence. (You could leave it out, if you prefer.)
That way, you can enjoy your comforting bowl of creamy tomato bisque without any hesitation.
You can even enjoy two bowls!
Healthy Tomato Basil Bisque
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 28 ounces diced or crushed tomatoes (1 can)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 bunch fresh basil leaves
- 32 ounces chicken stock, or vegetable stock
- 15 ounces cannellini beans, drained (1 can)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place the butter, onions and garlic in a large sauce pot over medium-low heat. Saute for 5-8 minutes to soften. Stir occasionally.
- Then add the tomatoes, tomato paste, basil leaves, chicken stock, beans, and crushed red pepper. Turn the heat up to medium-high and simmer for 20 minutes, stir occasionally.
- Turn off the heat. Using an immersion blender, puree the the soup until completely smooth. Taste and salt and pepper as needed.
- Then add the cream and stir to combine. Serve as is, or pour through a sieve for an even finer creamy texture.
Looks amazing! Question, do you have to drain and rinse the beans first? Thanks!
Hi Casey!
Definitely drain the beans. You can rinse them if you like. :)
I prepared this Healthy Tomato Basil Bisque exactly as written and it is FANTASTIC! My teen-aged son LOVES it and it has been added to our ‘family favorites’ binder. Thank you.
Healthy tomato basil bisque, I have lots of Roma and cherry tomatoes on my patio, can I use those instead of canned?
Hi Karen,
Sure! You will need to blanch and peel them first. But then they will be good to go! Just measure them by weight to get the exact amount needed.
Delish
This was fantastic! So glad I tried it. This works great for FMD diet sub the butter for coconut oil and leave out the cream. Thank you Sommer ?!
I just made this tonight. I used basil paste instead.
Both my husband and I thought it was fantastic!
This one goes in my recipe favorites.
love this soup, thank you!
How long would you say leftovers last in the refrigerator?
Hi Kim, I’d say at least a week. :)
Loving this soup! I made some Creamy Tomato Basil in December and just remade it and I almost never re-make things :)
I love your new site! I am on Lindsay’s list and have another couple months to wait but your makeover looks amazing.
Love a good homemade tomato soup!