Warming Tomato And Basil Soup

I love tomato soup. Always have and here’s a homemade recipe for warming tomato and basil soup that can be whipped up in a flash! Using store cupboard ingredients this tasty soup is packed full of health benefits and is perfect for lunch or a light supper. If I’m after something more substantial I add a salad on the side – fresh and crispy.

Tomatoes are especially strong on the health front – this recipe uses them from the can but if you’ve some fresh ones that need using up, add them to the pot as well!

If you’re using some fresh tomatoes and they need some extra help ripening, pop them into a brown paper bag with a banana and this will do the trick! 

Tomato Health Benefits

Tomatoes are a low-calorie food that packs a punch in the nutrition department, especially when they are fully ripe.

They are an excellent source of carotenes (especially lycopene) where studies have shown a higher dietary intake of carotenes offers protection against certain cancers such as lung, skin, breast and colon cancer. Carotenes can also offer antioxidant protection against heart disease and cataracts by neutralising the harmful oxygen-free radicals before they can do damage to our cells. Eating lycopene with oil, for example, olive oil can improve its absorption into the body – this is one of the reasons why the Mediterranean diet has so many healthy properties. And why in this warning tomato and basil soup recipe the combination of tomatoes and olive oil work even better!

More of the lycopene is ‘liberated’ when tomatoes are processed – up to about 5 times more. This is why tomato sauces, purees and tins of tomatoes are often better for you than the original, raw tomatoes. Canned food is sometimes better!

Read below on how to make this super tasty and warming soup – you’ll be making it again and again I assure you!