Description
Tomato Florentine Soup is a comforting Italian-American dish featuring a rich tomato base combined with fresh spinach and tender pasta. This easy stovetop recipe is enhanced with aromatic herbs, garlic, and a touch of cream for a velvety finish, making it a perfect vegetarian meal for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Main Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup small pasta (like orzo or ditalini)
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Onion: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Incorporate Tomato Paste: Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute to deepen its flavor.
- Add Liquids and Seasoning: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir in the sugar, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Simmer Soup: Bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cook Pasta: Add the small pasta to the soup and cook until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the fresh baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Finish with Cream: If desired, stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half just before serving to add richness.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For a vegan version, omit the cream and Parmesan cheese.
- Frozen spinach can be used instead of fresh; reduce the quantity to 1 cup if using frozen.
- To make the soup heartier, add cooked white beans or lentils.
