Witch's Brew Tomato Soup with Crispy Cheese 'Eyeballs'

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

A velvety tomato soup simmered with herbs, served with golden cheese 'eyeballs' that crackle like spooky whispers when bitten. This American-inspired Halloween recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs olive oil, onion, carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 152 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

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small, finely chopped (1/2 cup) onion
• 2, peeled and diced (1 cup) carrots
• 2 stalks, diced (1/2 cup) celery
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 tsp black sesame seeds

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, 1 cup diced carrots, and 1/2 cup diced celery; sauté 8 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 cups vegetable broth, 1 can diced tomatoes, and 1/2 tsp dried thyme. Simmer covered for 15 minutes.
3. Step 3: Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Return to low heat and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream; simmer 5 minutes without boiling.
4. Step 4: For 'eyeballs': Melt 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese in a small nonstick pan over medium-low heat. Drop 12 small mounds onto parchment paper. Sprinkle each with 1/4 tsp black sesame seed for the pupil; cool until set.
5. Step 5: Serve soup hot in bowls, topped with 2 'eyeballs' per serving.