Thick and Creamy Tomato Soup

4.7

(14)

47 Reviews

Stella’s take on the famous Nordstrom’s tomato basil soup uses carrot purée and just a splash of cream to create a thick, hearty, and warming meal.

By Stella Parks

Stella Parks Stella Parks is a CIA-trained baking nerd and pastry wizard, dubbed one of America's Best New Pastry Chefs by Food & Wine. She was the pastry editor at Serious Eats from 2016 to 2019.

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Updated on November 7, 2026

Credit: Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze. Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Why It Works

Unlike olive oil, butter browns as it cooks to lend the soup a bit of nutty depth.

Carrot purée adds an earthy sweetness to balance the acidic tomatoes, and creates a creamy consistency without much cream.

A small pinch of baking soda tames any unwanted acidity from canned tomatoes in the soup.

Puréeing tender vegetables after about 90 minutes creates a naturally creamy consistency.

Long before I started writing for…