Slow-Simmered Tomato Consommé with Herb Essence
A clear, deeply flavored broth where tomatoes slowly release their essence into a refined stock. This french-inspired soups ready in about 210 minutes pairs cored and quartered ripe tomatoes, large, sliced carrots, medium, chopped onions for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 50 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs, cored and quartered ripe tomatoes
- 1 large, sliced carrots
- 1 medium, chopped onions
- 1/4 cup, leaves stripped fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cups water
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine tomatoes, carrots, onions, thyme, and bay leaves in a large pot with 4 cups water.
- Step 2: Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface for the first 10 minutes.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer gently for 3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Step 4: Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean bowl, pressing solids gently to extract all liquid while discarding solids.
- Step 5: Return strained liquid to the pot, stir in lemon zest, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes to concentrate flavors, ensuring clarity and a clean finish.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Simmered Tomato Consommé with Herb Essence take to make?
Total time is about 210 minutes (20 min prep + 190 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Simmered Tomato Consommé with Herb Essence?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep large, sliced carrots from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Simmered Tomato Consommé with Herb Essence?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Simmered Tomato Consommé with Herb Essence for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Simmered Tomato Consommé with Herb Essence?
French soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Substituted chicken for tofu and it worked beautifully.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
