Food is an integral aspect of French culture, and amongst many sayings, one of them goes – “Mieux vaut pas de cuillere, que pas de soupe” – Better to not have a spoon, than to not have the soup. The specially curated tomato basil soup La Madeleine is the signature dish of this French Bakery and Cafe. Rich and creamy in texture, with a dash of fresh basil is your perfect companion on a cold afternoon or a hearty get-together meal.
This article will walk you through the unique recipe and also share some variations of this soup, giving you an idea of how to serve it and what to pair it with. You will also get an idea of what to do about the leftover soup. Read through –
Table of Contents
How to make tomato basil soup La Madeleine style?
Note – The measurements follow the US metric system
To perfect this recipe, you will require –
What do you need?
. Canned tomatoes (4 cups) or Fresh tomatoes (10) – peeled and chopped
. Tomato juice (4 cups), or you may mix it with – either vegetable broth or chicken stock. The proportion must be 50:50 to achieve the perfect taste.
. Heavy cream (1 cup)
. Basil leaves (12) – fresh and chopped. Though this recipe tastes best with fresh leaves, in case you do not find it, replace it with dried basil (1 tablespoon). Keep 2-3 whole basil leaves aside for garnishing.
. Unsalted sweet butter (8 tablespoons)
. Black pepper and salt (1/4 teaspoon each)
. Cheddar cheese and lemon juice (optional)
How to make it?
Step 1 – Your tomatoes (whether fresh or canned) is prepared. You will have to combine it with the – tomato juice or the tomato juice and broth concoction. Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and let it simmer on low flame for 30 minutes.
Step 2 – Once you are done with the simmering, you will see an almost thick red solution. Take this and combine it with the basil leaves or the dried basil. Now take this concoction and create a puree of it.
Rather than the whole of it, it is better to create this puree in batches. Use a hand blender or a food processor for better results.
Step 3 – Unlike other tomato soups, for this tomato basil soup La Madeleine format, you will have to return this puree to the saucepan for further cooking. Put it on low heat and add the cream to this. Keep stirring it. After some time – add the butter, and as usual, stir it by putting it on low flame.
Step 4 – Put the flame on medium-low and add the black pepper and salt. Continue stirring it. Once done – put it aside.
Step 5 – Garnish it with the basil leaves and cheese shreds. If you prefer tangy taste – add a dash of lemon juice to this soup.
Is there any variation of this soup?
If you wish to give a twist to the traditional tomato basil soup La Madeleine style, you can always fire-roast the tomatoes before the process. Also, when following this recipe as per the book, you will have to peel the tomatoes. But in case, you wish to change the taste a little, you need not peel the tomatoes (experts say tomato peels are packed with flavonols beneficial for health).
Lastly, garnish with oregano or garlic to enhance the taste of this soup.
How to serve tomato basil soup?
Ideally, it is served with crusty fresh bread, crostini, or croutons. However, if you are a cheese fan, then you may add shreds of cheese to the soup and then pair it with a cheese sandwich. It could very well make you a perfect supper!
How to store this soup?
In case you have some leftover soup, you can store it for a maximum of 2 days. However, unlike other food items, there is a particular way to store this tomato basil soup La Madeleine recipe –
Fill up a large mixing bowl with ice and water halfway through. You will now have to put a small mixing bowl (metal) into this larger ice-water bowl. Let this smaller mixing bowl get cold.
Next, you will have to put the remaining soup into this small bowl and stir it until it turns cold. For the ones unaware – do not freeze this broth since it does not sit well. You will have to stir it cold.
Now transfer this soup into a container (airtight) and then store it in the fridge.
Closing thoughts
For the unversed, despite being creamy in texture – the tomato basil soup La Madeleine style is one of the healthiest and keto-friendly broths. Also, if you are categorically looking for something less acidic, it is better to use fresh tomatoes rather than canned ones (use baking soda to neutralize the acid). One of the best broths – suitable for every season, one can surely try making this the next time you crave a warm bowl of soup. For more exciting recipes, keep visiting this website.
Monalisa Mukherjee is a content writer, copywriter and editor with 4 years of experience. She has written for websites like Biography Talk, The Rich Net Worth, Contour Cafe, He And She Fitness and Fiction Pad. She is currently associated with a noted Digital Marketing Agency and specialises in writing press release, guest posts, articles on travel, entertainment, food recipes, celebs, lifestyle, tech, health, and fashion.