Comforting Tomato Rice Soup
In short: A thick, kid-friendly soup of crushed tomatoes, onion and carrot with long-grain rice cooked right in the pot. Ready in 45 minutes. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 240 kcal
Tomato rice soup is a pantry dinner that feels like more than the sum of its parts. Canned tomatoes simmer with sweet onion and carrot, then a small amount of long-grain rice cooks directly in the pot and thickens the soup as it swells. The result sits somewhere between a soup and a loose porridge, which is why children tend to like it. Add basil and a drizzle of olive oil at the table.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onion and carrot for 8 minutes, stirring, until soft. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, stock, dried basil, bay leaf, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the rice, partly cover and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring now and then so the rice does not stick, until the grains are tender and the soup has thickened.
- Remove the bay leaf. Taste and add pepper and more salt if needed. If the soup is thicker than you like, stir in a splash of hot water.
- Ladle into bowls and top with torn basil and a drizzle of olive oil.
Tips
- The rice keeps absorbing liquid as the soup sits. When reheating leftovers, add 120 ml (1/2 cup) of hot water or stock per serving.
- For a smoother, creamier soup, blend the tomato base with an immersion blender before you add the rice.
Questions and answers
Can I use fresh tomatoes for tomato rice soup?
Yes. Use about 1 kg (2.2 lb) ripe tomatoes, chopped, and simmer for 10 extra minutes before adding the rice so they break down fully.
How is tomato rice soup different from regular tomato soup?
The rice cooks right in the broth, so the soup is thicker and slightly porridge-like. Regular tomato soup is usually smooth and thinner.
Can I freeze tomato rice soup?
You can, for up to 2 months, but the rice turns soft. For better texture, freeze the tomato base on its own and cook fresh rice in it when you reheat.
How long does it take to make Comforting Tomato Rice Soup?
About 45 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Comforting Tomato Rice Soup?
About 240 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 39 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 240 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 39 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 11 g |
| Sodium | 1150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
