Simple Rustic Tomato Bisque

This simple and rustic tomato bisque is just the comfort food you need on a chilly day and is a wonderful meal for company.

I think this must be my favorite recipe, though it is so hard to pick! Whether I make it on a Texas summer day or in the dead of winter, family and friends always love this beautifully rustic and flavorful tomato bisque.

Every homemaker should have at least one tried and true recipe in her back pocket that she can depend on when she gets a call that some unexpected company is coming over for dinner and she doesn’t have a minute to waste on meal preparation when her house looks… well…a bit out of sorts.

This is that sort of recipe and the wonderful thing is that it doesn’t compromise flavor for ease. People often think I have worked all day on the meal when, in reality, it only took 20 minutes to throw it together.

A wonderful make ahead meal

This is a really great meal to bring to the table when you have had a busy day, at home or otherwise, and you want to offer your family a nourishing meal, but don’t have much time or energy at the moment. It is always an unexpected blessing when you keep the ingredients on hand for these kinds of moments.

On days when I know I won’t have much time in the kitchen, like when we are coming home from church and need lunch waiting on us, this is a great go-to meal. I have made this soup the day before, let it cool, put it in the fridge, and then simply put it in the slow cooker on low to reheat.

Make mealtime memories!

We have a lot of fun with this meal and feel as if we are having lunch at a little French bistro! Once, I even put a pretty white tablecloth on the table for an elegant dinner. Yes, I am still trying to get the red stains out, but the memories were so worth it!

So, light your taper candles, cue the music, put the white table linens on, and gather the family around! Life calls for a celebration!

Trim Healthy Mama Friendly

As many of you may know, I love the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) lifestyle! This bisque would be considered a THM S meal, due to the higher fat content.

If you follow THM, and are serving this bisque without any additional protein, you will want to add collagen to make sure you are getting enough protein. I usually add about 3 tablespoons of the Trim Healthy Mama Integral Collagen to the pot with the tomatoes and blend it all together.

I use the THM brand Baking Blend and Xylitol Free Gentle Sweet Blend in this recipe as well. If you are interested in those ingredients click here.

What ingredients do I need to make tomato bisque?

1. butter
2. onion
3. salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried basil
4. flour of choice
5. sweetener of choice
6. tomatoes (canned or fresh)
7. chicken bone broth
8. heavy cream

This is one of those recipes where the quality of ingredients can really make the dish shine. If you can, I recommend using homemade chicken stock, homegrown or farm grown tomatoes, grass-fed butter, and rich cream. However, even if those things are unavailable to you, this will still be an amazing dish!

How to make tomato bisque

1. Chop an onion and sauté it in butter until soft and translucent.
2. Add flour, sweetener, basil, garlic, salt and pepper to the onions and sauté until browned and fragrant.
3. Stir in 1 quart of chicken broth and two 28-ounce cans or two quarts of diced tomatoes.
4. Blend the mixture with an immersion blender until smooth to your liking.
5. Stir in 1 1/2 cups heavy cream.
6. Heat to your desired serving temperature.

FAQs

Can I make tomato bisque gluten free?

Absolutely! Simply use your favorite flour substitute in place of the flour in the recipe or omit the flour completely. You may need to simmer the bisque for 15 minutes, if you decide to omit the flour, to thicken it a bit.

What other sweeteners can I use in tomato bisque?

I usually use a natural low glycemic sweetener for this recipe. Pure stevia extract, monk fruit, or Trim Healthy Mama’s Gentle Sweet Blend (without xylitol) are all good options. However, I have also used sucanat. Sucanat, also known as rapadura, is sugar in its most whole, natural, and unprocessed form.

What should I serve with tomato bisque?

As a side, I love to set up a gourmet grilled cheese assembly line so each person can prepare their sandwich however they like it. Our sandwich makings usually include sourdough or sprouted breads, various cheeses, bacon, sliced meats of choice, fresh basil, sliced onion, sliced tart apple, sliced tomato, and garlic and herb mayonnaise.

Can tomato bisque be made in advance?

Tomato bisque is a great meal to make in advance. I find that making it ahead of time actually gives the flavors a chance to meld together, making it even better the day after! Here are the steps for making tomato bisque a day in advance:

• Prepare tomato bisque according to the recipe.
• Place a lid on the pot and allow it to cool until slightly warm.
• Place the pot in the refrigerator until you are ready to heat it.
• To heat, place the pot on the stove and heat it on medium or transfer the soup to a slow cooker and turn it on low. Allow the bisque to heat until the desired temperature is reached, and you are ready to serve.