How To Thicken Tomato Soup -

If you love cooking and spend a generous amount of time in the kitchen, chances are you will have experimented with some ways to improve your dish or rectify any flops. I love being in the kitchen, and I have had my fair share of flops, so I have a few tips on how you can easily thicken your tomato soup for a warm hearty soup that hits the spot.

Thickening tomato soup can be done in various ways using starch flour, starchy vegetables, adding cream, eggs, and cheese. Using the right tomatoes can also make a difference to the thickness of your soup, and roasting them before jumping directly into making the soup can help reduce excess water.

Tips On How To Thicken Tomato Soup

Don’t feel alone if you planned to make a delicious pot of heart tomato soup and it turned out a watery mix, but here are some tips that I learned to get that soup back on track and serve up a masterpiece.

Tip #1: Allow Your Soup To Simmer

The simplest and cheapest way to thicken your soup is to give it a little extra cooking time. Allow the soup to simmer uncovered over low to medium heat, which will allow the extra juice to evaporate and thicken naturally. This is also the ideal way to retain the original delicious flavors of the soup without changing any of the delicate flavors and textures.

Use this method also for thickening marinara sauce or cooked salsa.

Tip #2: Blend Your Tomato Soup

Another easy way to thicken your soup without changing flavor profiles is to blend it. You can a portion at a time in a high-powered blender or food processor, adding it gradually to the remaining soup in the pot until you have the consistency you want.

Or you can blend the whole pot at once with an immersion blender to puree the soup, giving you a smooth thick delicious soup.

Tip #3: Add Tomato Paste

Adding tomato paste is a sure way to thicken up a watery tomato soup, and since it’s made from tomatoes, it makes sense to add some to the soup.

However, utilize the tomato paste sparingly when using this method, as the concentrated paste can change the flavor of your soup. It may make it saltier and is best used before spicing up your pot. Start off diluting one spoon at a time until you reach the consistency you want.

Tip #4: Incorporate Starchy Vegetables

Adding some starchy vegetables can add extra texture and flavors to your soup, but it can also help thicken it (this method can also be used for thickening gumbo or baked beans!)

Adding some cubed starchy vegetables will help absorb some liquid while it is cooking, and vegetables like potatoes and butternut squash release starch when they cook, which will thicken up the soup simultaneously.

Here are some ideas for starchy vegetables that you can add to your soup to help thicken it up.

Sweet potato
Butternut squash
Red lentils
Potatoes
Beans

Red lentils are also a great combination with tomato soup and will quickly add body to the soup. Throw some red lentils into the soup, which will absorb liquid while it cooks and swells; once they are soft, mush them into the soup to thicken up the pot.

Tip #5: Add Instant Potato Flakes

Using some instant potato flakes or instant mash is another great way to thicken up your soup, but be careful and use a little at a time until you reach the consistency you want; adding too much may end up with a red mash instead of a creamy tomato soup.

Tip #6: Add Cream Or Greek Yoghurt

Adding heavy cream or Greek yogurt in the last twenty minutes of your soup cooking process not only helps to thicken it but also gives the soup a rich and creamy texture, with the Greek yogurt adding a new tangy dimension to your soup that works really well with tomato soups.

Remember to allow the soup to simmer gently in its pot once you have added the cream or yogurt, as boiling it may cause it to separate.

Tip #7: Make A Slurry Using Starch Flour

You can make a slurry to thicken your soup using any of the below starch flours.

Cornstarch
Arrowroot
Tapioca
Potato starch

A slurry is a mixture of any of the above starches with a little cold water that you add at the end of the process by mixing it in a separate bowl until smooth, then adding a little at a time to the soup.

Bring the pot to a boil and watch the soup thicken immediately, but remember to stir as you pour in the mix constantly, or you may have a lumpy soup; and do not use it in excess, or it may change the flavors of your delicious soup.

Tip #8: Make A Roux Using Flour

A Roux uses a similar process to a slurry, but in this process, an equal part of any flour and butter is used to make a thickening agent. This mix adds a creamy texture to your soup without using any creams. Below are some ideas of flours that you can use.

Wheat flour
Chickpea flour
Oat flour
Quinoa flour
Rice flour

Use unsalted butter that is melted in a pan and add equal parts of flour, mixing it to form a smooth paste. Add some broth to the mix, stirring until you get a smooth paste, and then add to your soup, constantly stirring until it thickens.

Tip #9: Add Eggs

Not exactly the first item that comes to mind when wanting to thicken a soup, but the addition of eggs is a great way to add rich flavors to your soup. You can use the whole egg, or only the egg yolk for a richer and deeper flavor, or just the egg whites for a lighter soup.

Whichever way you decide to go, remember to temper the egg before adding it to the soup, or you may land up with a scrambled tomato soup.

Tempering the egg is when you crack your egg in a separate bowl and gently ladle in some of your soup while vigorously whisking the concoction until you have a smooth mix. Once the right consistency is achieved, pour into the soup and stir until it thickens.

Tip #10: Add Some Cheese

No matter what your favorite flavor of cheeses is, you can add some sprinkles of cheese to thicken up a tomato soup, but it also adds a different taste to the soup, elevating its texture and flavors to be richer and creamier.

Tip #11: Add Nuts To Thicken The Soup

Adding nuts is another way to thicken your tomato soup, and it’s vegan too. But because nuts can have a very distinctive taste, it is always better to stick to neutral flavors such as,

Almond nuts
Cashew nuts

Making a smooth cream from either of these nuts will instantly thicken your soup and add a new nuttier dimension to the flavors. Add your nuts with a bit of water or broth in a blender or high-powered mixer and mix until you are left with a creamy smooth paste. Pour the creamy liquid into the pot and allow to simmer on low until your soup thickens.

Tip #12: Add Croutons

Another creative way to thicken your watery soup is by layering some croutons or bread on top of the soup. The bread will soften and absorb the liquid; the bread will finally become soft and melt away into the soup, thickening it up simultaneously.

A fun way to add dimension and flavor to the soup is to add flavored croutons to insert a little extra “je ne sais quoi” flavor profile to the soup.

Conclusion

Tomato soup is a hearty, healthy meal to have on a cold winter day. It is easy enough to make at home, but sometimes you might find the soup in need of thickening if something goes wrong. To thicken tomato soup, you can use a variety of ingredients like tomato paste, cheese, cream, or other vegetables. Which method is your favorite?

How To Thicken Tomato Soup