Tomato soup is not only a simple, light, and delicious dish to complement your meals, but it's also beneficial for your health. Discover all the benefits of tomato soup and incorporate it into your diet with the three recipes we're sharing with you today, perfect for lunch and dinner.
Benefits of tomato soup
Tomato soup offers numerous benefits despite its simplicity. Prepare it with fresh, high-quality ingredients using one of the recipes we provide in this article, and you'll reap its many benefits.
- Low Calorie Content: Tomato soup is a dish that is generally low in calories, which makes it a suitable option for those looking to maintain or lose weight.
- Moisturizing. Due to its high water content, tomato soup helps maintain adequate hydration, something especially important in hot climates or after physical exercise.
- Easy to digest: Tomato soup is gentle on the stomach, making it suitable for people recovering from illnesses or having digestive problems.
- Promotes good digestive health. Tomatoes contain a significant amount of fiber, which can help promote good digestive health and prevent problems such as constipation.
- Rich in antioxidants: Tomato is an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant that has been associated with reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer.
- Source of essential vitamins and minerals: Tomato soup contains vitamins such as C, K and several B complex, as well as minerals such as potassium, which are essential for general health.
- Contributes to good cardiovascular health: The inclusion of tomatoes in the diet has been associated with lowering blood pressure and reducing LDL cholesterol (the known bad cholesterol), which contributes to better heart health.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: The bioactive compounds present in tomatoes can have anti-inflammatory effects, which is beneficial in combating various diseases.
3 tomato soup recipes for you
Want to include tomato soup in your weekly menu? You can serve it as a starter at lunch or enjoy it for dinner, or even drink it between meals to refresh and hydrate yourself in the summer. When preparing it, you can also enrich it with other healthy ingredients such as vegetables, legumes, herbs, and spices, thus increasing its nutritional value.
gazpacho
Salmorejo from Córdoba is essentially a thick tomato soup, made with ripe tomatoes, garlic, bread, and olive oil. It's a fantastic option that you can serve with a hard-boiled egg, diced ham, and/or some flaked tuna to make it more substantial.
Cold tomato soup with yogurt
If you're looking for another refreshing summer option, this tomato and yogurt soup could be a great choice. To make it, you'll need: 1 kg of ripe plum tomatoes, quartered; 2 Greek yogurts; 2 teaspoons of salt; 30 g of lemon juice; 70 g of olive oil; a few fresh mint leaves; a pinch of ground black pepper; and 1 sun-dried tomato in oil (optional).
Blend the tomatoes, then add the Greek yogurt, salt, lemon juice, olive oil, fresh mint leaves, a pinch of pepper, and blend again. Let it cool and chill in the refrigerator, then serve ice cold.
Roasted Tomato and Basil Soup
Next up is a slightly more elaborate recipe, as the first step is to roast the tomatoes. The list of ingredients you'll need is as follows: 9-10 plum tomatoes, 1/3 of a roughly chopped onion, 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, 1 cup of evaporated milk, 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 3 tablespoons of fresh basil, 2 teaspoons of double-concentrated tomato paste, and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Cut the tomatoes in half and place them cut-side up on a baking tray. Add the onion and garlic to the tray, drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Mix everything well and roast for 40 minutes , or until the tomatoes begin to brown.
Next, transfer all the contents of the tray to the blender, including the juices, and add the evaporated milk, cheese, basil, tomato paste, and sugar. Blend until smooth and adjust the seasonings before serving, adding extra cheese if desired.