By Devi Poojari
November 11, 2025
A warm and comforting bowl of homemade tomato soup is an ideal start to a meal or can be converted into a light supper, when paired with a sandwich. To make the soup at home, all one requires is a handful of everyday ingredients, which makes for a tangy, savoury and slightly sweet option for winter evenings.
3-4 large tomatoes, diced 1 large onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, crushed 2 sprigs fresh basil (optional) 1 small carrot, diced 2-3 cups water 1 vegetable stock cube Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon olive oil/butter
Heat the oil or butter in a large saucepan and add the crushed garlic along with the onions to sweat for 3-4 minutes.
Add the carrot to sauté for an additional 3 minutes before tipping in the tomatoes and cooking for 2 minutes.
Pour in the water and crumble the stock cube, seasoning the mixture with salt and pepper.
Place the basil sprigs in the liquid and simmer the mixture for 10-12 minutes.
Use a fork to remove and discard the basil sprigs and allow it to cool slightly before using a hand blender to grind into a smooth, homogenous mixture.
Simmer the soup again for 3-4 minutes, checking for seasoning and adjusting if needed.
Ladle into serving bowls and serve hot, with a breadstick on the side.