If Your Homemade Tomato Soup Turned Out Too Chunky, Here's Where It Probably Went Wrong

A bright and beautiful bowl of homemade tomato soup delivers comfort in every spoonful. There are plenty of ways to make a basic recipe your own, whether it's by adding ingredients to boost the protein or fiber content or a clever choice of toppings to provide some extra crunch, creaminess, or flavor. Of course, there are also plenty of mistakes everyone makes with tomato soup that can seriously disrupt the smooth mouthfeel with an unwelcome chunky consistency.

The major mistake that ruins tomato soup every time is undercooking your tomatoes. While chunky style is good for some soups, tomato soup calls for a certain level of smoothness that you can only get by properly blending your ingredients together. With tomatoes being the star ingredient of your soup, having an undercooked base is not a good look or taste.

There are several options to keep this from happening. For one, canned tomatoes are an excellent choice to use in lieu of fresh because they already come cooked in the can. This will provide the optimal texture. If you do insist on using fresh tomatoes, roasting them first can also be a big help to avoid a chunky mess. 

Roasting tomatoes along with herbs and spices will give your homemade soup both the right taste and texture. If you'd prefer a more hands-off approach, skip the stovetop and use a crockpot to slow-cook your tomato soup ingredients before blending everything. Though more time-consuming, this will ensure the smoothness you're looking for. Rather than risk chunky soup, low and slow is a great way to go.

You can also try Giada De Laurentiis' brilliant tip for a creamy tomato soup without dairy by blending up a portion of creamy white beans. Add this along with properly cooked fresh tomatoes or their canned counterparts for a fiber-rich soup that's filled with flavor. Cannellini, Great Northern, and similar white beans are ideal when using this tip. Much like the tomatoes, using canned beans is preferable.

If you do like your tomato soup with some variance in consistency, skip the chunky base and get creative with your toppings. Add a handful of cheesy croutons for a fun crunch to counter the soup's smooth texture. Serving the tomato soup with cooked rice will also give it more body and a boost of starchy carb-heavy ingredients. A sprinkle of shredded cheese and fresh herbs will also accentuate your creamy soup with fun texture and flavor. Serve your tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches for a well-rounded meal.