There are few things as comforting as a bowl of “simply tomato soup.” Recipes can be found of assorted varieties. All over the tomato soup map. For me, I don’t care for anything fancy… and many are too heavy on the basil for me. It’s ok, but not a big fan, and a little basil goes a longggg way. Tomato soup need not be fussy… just tomato soup.
I keep a couple of cans in my pantry for back up when the craving or “need” hits and I’m not prepared to make any, although it’s pretty darn easy to do. When I must resort to canned, it’s usually Progresso’s Hearty Tomato.
Locally, I’ve found a couple I enjoy… one is at the franchise Chicken Salad Chick. Their tomato bisque is described as…
“a creamy soup made with ripe tomatoes, milk, butter, and spices“
The other, and most favorite of anywhere is at Merritt’s Grill in Chapel Hill… THE BLT place of all BLT places. Merritt’s is an icon in North Carolina. Their tomato soup is described by customers as…
“super sweet and silky” with a “punch of fire” and “thick enough for dunking”
Every time I visit, I make sure to post so others that haven’t had the experience can! And wish I had brought some home. So what does a recipe creator do?
Yup… I created my version of Merritt’s Tomato Soup. And to me, it’s pretty darn close. I did call and ask if they share the recipe but they do not. And I was told they have plans to make it for shipping… ain’t nobody got time for that! lol
So…. here’s to the simple culinary pleasures in life, like “…simply tomato soup.” My own copycat of the delicious Merritt’s Grill Tomato Soup! Eat as is… I like to garnish by making a grilled cheese sandwich and tearing up for “croutons.”
Enjoy… and let me know your favorite place for tomato soup.
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…simply tomato soup
Ingredients
- 1 medium-large sweet onion finely diced
- 2 stalks celery finely diced (minced)
- 8 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 28 ounce can whole San Marzano or plum tomatoes with juice
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons Aunt Dee Dee’s Kitchen Spaghetti seasoning (see notes) or Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Lots of freshly ground black pepper
- 2-4 tablespoons light brown sugar to balance acidity of tomatoes
- 1 heaping tablespoon Better Than Bouillon roasted chicken paste dissolved in 1 cup hot tap water
Instructions
- Turn 1.5-2 quart crockpot on high.
- Put diced onion and celery into large microwave-safe bowl with 4 tablespoons of butter. Cook on HI for 4-5 minutes until tender.
- While that cooks, put tomatoes and sauce into pot with the rest of the butter and remaining ingredients. Stir in half the cooked celery-onion-butter mixture and cover. Let cook for a couple of hours till bubbly around the edges, quickly stirring occasionally.
- Using immersion or regular blender, puree soup until desired consistency. You can fully puree or leave some small bits of tomato as I do. Taste and adjust any seasonings as needed. Stir in the celery-onion mix you put aside.
- Garnish Ideas: grilled cheese sandwich croutons, crumbled bacon, parsley, chive or crispy fried onion
Notes
- Buy Aunt Dee Dee's Kitchen Spaghetti & More Seasoning
- For a variety of tastes, you can use Aunt Dee Dee's Kitchen Church Lady Hot Dog Chili Seasoning, Bread Sop or Everything Dust instead of the spaghetti seasoning.
- If you like creamy soup, whirl in a bit of cream once done at serving time.
- If you like fully pureed, add all the onion-celery before blending.
