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This Creamy Tomato Bisque Recipe is one you’ll want to make over and over again. It has a unique blend of flavorings that takes it over the top. You’ll think that you are in a fine dining restaurant when you dig into this easy homemade creamy bisque.
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Why You Should Be Making This
This recipe is adapted from a bisque recipe from an up-scale restaurant in my old hometown. I came upon it through a co-worker of my wife’s.
She either figured it out herself or was given the recipe by the restaurant owner. Since finding this recipe and making it for the first time, it is the only way I make tomato soup.
The ingredients in this creamy tomato soup recipe are unique and the combination of flavors is fabulous.
This Healthy Tomato Soup is the perfect comfort food.
The Difference Between Soup and Bisque
Soup recipes are classified as either a broth type or a thick type soup. An example of a thick soup is vegetable beef which contains whole cut-up pieces of vegetables.
It may also be slightly thickened with a cornstarch slurry.
An example of a broth soup could be egg-drop soup. A flavorful broth is created using homemade chicken stock which gets added spices for a rich flavor. Then whipped eggs are floated in the broth and boiled until they are set.
A traditional bisque is French in origin and is creamy and contains a broth made from shellfish. Lobster or crab bisque is an example of this.
Today, bisque can be defined as a soup that uses heavy cream and is pureed until it is quite smooth with a velvety texture.
The Main Ingredients For Tomato Bisque Recipe
There are no exotic ingredients in this recipe. These pantry staples are probably items you have on hand.
The one ingredient that is kind of special is the San Marzano tomatoes. They are an Italian plum tomato that has a rich flavor, is tender, and is low in acid. Your local grocery store probably has San Marzano tomatoes. I feel that they make the best tomato soup.
The brand that I see most frequently is Cento. The can will specify that they are San Marzano or Italian origin.
Look for certified on the label which will mean that the tomatoes are Pomodoro certified.
The Cento website has an online store if you are unable to find the tomatoes locally.
Additional ingredients include onion, butter, dill weed, oregano, all-purpose flour for thickening, chicken broth, V-8 vegetable juice, honey, and heavy cream.
I know that Tomato Basil Soup is popular, but the dill is a secret ingredient that makes this homemade soup unique.
The bisque tastes slightly sweet because it contains a bit of honey. Combine that sweetness with the distinct flavor of dill and oregano and this becomes no ordinary tomato soup.
There’s a good amount of butter, for richness, and some onion, dill weed, and oregano. A small amount of flour is used for thickening because there’s quite a bit of liquid in the recipe.
A 28-ounce can of San Marzano tomatoes will have 6 or 7 skinless whole tomatoes. These will need to be broken up slightly. I find it’s easiest to use a pair of kitchen shears to cut them into pieces.
A sharp paring knife and a wooden spoon for holding the tomato work well too.
The San Marzanos give a rich tomato flavor which will make this delicious soup a family favorite.
How to Make Creamy Tomato Bisque
Start out with a large saucepan or dutch oven, at least a 4-quart size on medium heat, and add the butter, chopped onion, dill, and oregano.
Cook until the onion is translucent and soft which will take 4 or 5 minutes.
Add the all-purpose flour next and stir it into the onion and butter. Let the flour taste cook off for 2 minutes.
Whisk in the chicken broth and stir to prevent lumping then add the tomatoes and V-8 juice.
Add the chopped parsley and the salt and pepper. Turn up the stove to medium high heat and bring it to a boil.
Once the flour has thickened the soup, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir the pot occasionally to make sure the liquid is not scorching.
Remove the pot from the heat and now the soup gets pureed. Just use a traditional blender for this.
Carefully add the hot liquids to a blender jar filling it to about half. Take the filler cap off the lid and place the lid on the jar and hold a kitchen towel over the lid opening.
This will allow the pressure from the hot liquid to escape through the towel.
Turn on the blender to puree. Depending on your blender this could take 1 or 2 minutes to fully make the bisque creamy and smooth.
Pour the finished bisque into a separate pan and continue to puree the remaining soup.
If you don’t have a blender, an immersion blender could be used to puree the soup. An immersion blender will probably not get the bisque quite as smooth as a traditional blender.
A food processor would also work to puree the bisque.
When the soup has all been pureed, pour it back into the original saucepan and place it back on the stove on medium heat.
Then stir in the heavy whipping cream and the honey.
At this time you should taste the bisque and add additional kosher salt or pepper if desired. Let the soup heat up and serve it hot.
I recommend that you don’t bring the soup to a boil because it retains heat for a long time. Just bring it to a comfortable temperature so you won’t have to wait to enjoy it.
What To Serve With The Bisque
You can serve this homemade tomato bisque as your main dish with some good crusty bread.
Since it is essentially a fancy creamy tomato soup, it goes perfectly with a grilled cheese sandwich.
Spoon it up, drizzle a little cream on top, and garnish with parsley or fresh dill. Or, add a dollop of sour cream to the bisque.
For an excellent accompaniment to this, make someCheesy Italian Dunkers. The two are fabulous together. Then, just serve along with a side salad for an easy dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute for heavy cream?
You could use whole milk if you would like. The bisque will not be quite as creamy this way though.
Can I skip using the honey?
The honey helps to counterbalance the acidity of the tomatoes and tastes great with dill and oregano. If you are allergic to honey, try using liquid agave nectar or light Karo syrup.
What if I don’t have a blender?
An immersion blender is fine to use as is a food processor. You may find that these two may not get your bisque as smooth as a blender would. That’s okay because it will still taste terrific.
What To Do With Leftover Bisque
If you have any leftover tomato bisque, store it refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
You could also freeze leftovers in a tightly sealed airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen soup in your refrigerator.
To reheat the tomato bisque soup, place it in a medium saucepan on your stovetop on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
You may also reheat it in a microwave oven using the auto-reheat function on the microwave if it has one. Or, reheat at 50% power to prevent the bisque from bubbling and splattering when heated too quickly.
Leftovers make a great lunch paired with a sandwich.
This tomato bisque recipe is always a hit when I make it. Give it a try. The printable recipe card is below.
Here Are Some More Tasty Recipes To Try:
- Fresh Vegetable Provencal Soup
- Tender Beef Tips and Egg Noodles
- Homemade Chicken Fettucine Alfredo
- Easy Creamy Chicken Pasta with Mushrooms
Easy Creamy Tomato Bisque Recipe
Delicious, simple creamy tomato bisque. The flavor is exceptional. You will want to bookmark this delicious recipe.
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, French inspired
Keyword: creamy tomato bisque recipe, homemade tomato bisque, tomato bisque
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 297kcal
Author: Joe Boyle
Ingredients
- 1 small yellow onion , chopped small, 3/4 cup
- 6 tbsp. butter
- 1 tsp dried dill weed
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 28 oz can San Marzano tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cups chicken broth (I use Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base)
- 12 oz. V-8 juice , or vegetable juice
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, plus additional for garnish
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
Instructions
Saute onions with butter, dill, and oregano in a 4 qt. saucepan until onions are softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
Add flour, cook and stir for 2 minutes.
Add chicken stock whisking in gradually to prevent lumping. Then add the tomatoes and V-8. Add chopped parsley, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Next, use a blender to puree the bisque. This is best done in 2 batches. Carefully add the hot liquid to a blender jar filling it to about half. Take the filler cap off the lid and place the lid on the jar and hold a kitchen towel over the lid opening. This will allow the pressure from the hot liquid to escape through the towel. Puree for 1 to 2 minutes until the tomato bisque is creamy smooth.
Place the first batch in a separate bowl when finished, then puree the remaining soup. (An immersion blender will work also). When finished, return the bisque to the initial saucepan and reheat, then stir in the honey and cream.
Let the creamy tomato bisque come up to a comfortable temperature for eating. It retains heat really well. Serve and garnish with a drizzle of cream, and chopped parsley or fresh dill if desired.
Notes
- This recipe makes approximately 2 quarts, (64 ounces), of bisque.
- Be careful when blending hot liquid. It's best to remove the blender's fill cap from the cover and use a towel to cover the fill hole to allow any steam and pressure to release.
- My blender took about 1 minute to puree each batch on low speed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 297kcal
This recipe was updated on August 26, 2023.
