Love-apple soup – a lightly spiced, smooth and delicious tomato soup, topped with cheesy toast hearts. The perfect way to say ‘I love you’!
Ah, Valentine’s Day and love is in the air! And my Pinterest and Facebook feeds are full of recipes involving chocolate, strawberries, and sometimes both. Savoury dishes really do seem to play second fiddle at the moment, as though nothing says ‘I love you’ like a dose of sugar and fat…
Say it with savoury
I ought to come clean and say that in previous years, I too have been caught up in this frenzy of sweet, sweet goodies. Only last year I made these Nutella shortbread hearts, for instance.
But this year, I wanted to do something more savoury. Something altogether more grown up. Not to mention healthier, and more filling.
Love apples!
So, enter that other red fruit, the humble tomato. Once known as the ‘love apple’ it seemed only right to put it to use in a Valentine’s Day recipe!
Easy tomato soup
I created this smooth and delicious tomato soup as a perfect warming treat for your special person on a cold February day. I made sure to add a hint of spice just to get those pulses racing!
It’s quick and easy to make, so you can whip up a batch for lunch as a special Valentine’s treat for your significant other. Or treat yourself to some self-love with a bowlful any day of the year!
Tu B’Av – ‘Jewish Valentines Day’
This thick and tasty soup is also perfect for Tu B’Av – the Jewish festival of love. Tu B’Av falls during the summer, usually in July or August, when fresh tomatoes are at their peak.
To make this soup using fresh tomatoes simply substitute 400-450g of tomatoes for their tinned cousins. Blanch in boiling water and peel before roughly chopping and adding to the recipe.
Click here to see more Tu B’Av recipes and ideas.
Love apple soup (easy tomato soup) ingredients
This rich and delicious soup is quick to make and only uses ingredients that you’re likely to have already! Perfect for last minute Valentine’s cooking. To make it, you will need:
- Onion – for a deep, savoury base of flavour.
- Olive oil – to cook the onions and give a rich texture to the soup.
- Harissa – to give it a little kick of chilli! You can leave this out or add a pinch of crushed chilli instead.
- Tinned tomatoes – or use fresh, see above.
- Vegetable stock – fresh, or from a cube or powder, or use a little miso paste dissolved in water.
That’s it! If you want to also make the cheesy toasts – and let’s face it who wouldn’t – you’ll also need some bread and cheese. I love a seedy sourdough but anything sturdy will work fine.
Heart-shaped toast
I topped my tomato soup with cheesy toasts, and in a nod to the celebration of love, I even cut them into heart shapes. This was easy to do using a cookie cutter, but you could probably manage just as well with a knife. Or just leave them toast-shaped. Whichever you prefer.
I hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day. Finish your soup and toast, and you can have some chocolate, and strawberries!
Serves 2.
If you want deliciously easy, family-friendly recipes like this one delivered straight to your inbox, simply click here to subscribe. (Of course, I’ll never pass on your email address to anyone.)
📖 Recipe
‘Love apple’ tomato soup with cheesy toasts
Ingredients
- 1 small onion
- 2 tsbp olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon harissa (or according to your taste for spicy food!)
- 400 g tin peeled tomatoes
- 250 ml hot vegetable stock
For the toasts
- 2 slices bread
- 50 g grated cheese
Instructions
To make the soup
- 1 small onion, 2 tsbp olive oil, ¼ tsp harissaPeel and dice the onion. Add to a medium saucepan with the olive oil and harissa and cook over a low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes until soft.
- 400 g (14 oz) tin peeled tomatoes, 250 ml (generous 1 cup) hot vegetable stockAdd the tomatoes and stock, stir, and use a spoon to break up the tomatoes. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for around 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Blend until very smooth, then set aside and keep warm while you make the toasts.
To make the cheesy toasts
- Preheat the grill (broiler) to medium-high.
- 2 slices breadUsing a cookie-cutter or a sharp knife, cut each slice of bread into a heart shape.
- Toast the bread lightly on both sides in the toaster, then place the toast hearts onto a baking sheet.
- 50 g (½ cup) grated cheeseDivide the cheese between the toasts, and place under the grill (broiler) for a minute or two until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
To serve
- Divide the soup between two bowls, and carefully place a cheesy toast heart on top of each. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More fabulous Valentine’s Day ideas
If you’d like some more savoury Valentine’s ideas, how about these gorgeous roasted heart potatoes from Little Sunny Kitchen, or this Love Soup (sweet potato, carrot and red pepper soup) from Munchies and Munchkins.
More tasty tomato soup recipes
More delicious tomato-based soups for you to enjoy include vibrant carrot and tomato soup with orange and ginger, filling tomato soup with gnocchi and aubergine croutons, and delicious sweet and sour cabbage and tomato soup with rice.
I’m linking up to the Food Year Linkup, at Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen, as of course this soup is perfect for Valentine’s Day on February 14.
Beth Sachs
This is such a cute idea for Valentines Day! The soup sounds really tasty!
Helen
Thanks Beth! It was a fun Valentine’s lunch – something a bit different 😍
Toni
I really loved it! So good and taste! and easy to make, too!
Claudia Lamascolo
Very delicious the whole family enjoyed this recipe and I will be making it often thanks so much!
Helen
Thanks Claudia, that’s great to hear! It’s a family favourite here too 🙂
Toni
This is so good and amazing! I loved the combination of flavors!
Helen
Thanks Toni. So glad you enjoyed it.
Danielle
Love that you added harissa to the soup. What a great idea. Can’t wait to try it!
Helen
Thanks Danielle – it gives it a delicious spicy kick!
Keira Ball
Yeah. i got new recipe for date.
Jac -Tinned Tomatoes (@tinnedtoms)
Nice photo.
Helen
Thanks Jac.
hijackedbytwins
I love a good old tomato soup, it has to be a favourite of mine! The heart bread looks great. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Corina
What a lovely idea for Valentine’s day! It’s great to see a heart shaped savoury recipe – I might have to make heart shaped toasts myself this year now!
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
This looks so delicious Helen and so much better for us then the fat/sugar/cream/butter ‘goodies’ which we seem to share with our loved ones. I too have fallen head long into that trap, though a little naughtiness does us good 😉
Love how you’ve presented your soup with the loveheart cheesy toast. OH would love this. #CookBlogSHare
Angela x
Helen
Thanks Angela. I agree with a little naughtiness, but I like to fill up on something wholesome first!
Happy Valentine’s Day! H x.
Charlotte Oates
I’m totally guilty of going down the strawberries and chocolate route this year 🙂
The idea of using a “love-apple” is really sweet and I love the addition of the giant heart-shaped crouton, I certainly be happy is my hubby cooked this for me on Valentine’s Day (although I’d be happy if he cooked for me on any day really!)
Helen
Thanks Charlotte. You could send him the link by way of a hint? Have a happy Valentine’s Day!
Hayley (@SnapHappyBakes)
What a great idea to add harissa to tomato soup. Genius! Thanks for linking to #CookBlogShare
Helen
Thanks Hayley! I love a bit of spice 🙂
Priya
this looks so good..loving it
Emma's Little Kitchen
Simple and absolutely adorable! I love this 🙂
Christine | Vermilion Roots
Aww. Perfect for V day breakfast in bed. 🙂
Helen
Thanks Christine. Not sure about breakfast but it’s great for brunch or lunch 🙂
Sarah
I must admit – as fun as all the Valentine’s Day sweets are – it’s so nice to see a savory spin. And what says love better than a big ol’ slab of cheesy in tomato soup. Love it!
Helen
Thanks Sarah! No Valentine’s toothache here – just ooey-gooey melty cheesy yum.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
This recipe is so cute! Love the heart shaped toast for valentines day 🙂
Helen
Thanks Sam. Everything looks great heart-shaped!
Dooseet
I love it! Simple and really amazing! and looks great too!
Helen
Thanks Dooseet 😀
Sophie
YUM! Tomato soup and cheesy toast is one of my favourite comfort foods! Do they have to be for a loved one? I might just make them for myself, hehe.
Helen
Thanks Sophie. I think you’re completely at liberty to make them for yourself. (Just between us, I ate both of the bowls in the picture. Oops.)
Emily
What a clever idea! I really want some cheesy toast now – yummy! x
Helen
Thanks Emily. Mmmm, cheesy toast…
recipesfromapantry
I love easy fun recipes like this one.
Helen
Thanks! It’s also delicious 🙂
Janice @FarmersgirlCook
This is fabulous Helen, especially with the cheese (fat) laden toasts on top! I can see this being our soup for next weekend, because other than that we don’t really do Valentines!
Helen
Thanks Janice! Nothing says I love you like cheesy toast 🙂
hann182014
This looks amazing. Quite creative too x
Helen
Thanks! It’s really tasty <3
jennavon
I’m single so won’t be doing the love hearts. Looks delicious and so simple to make.
Never thought of having cheese on toast with tomato soup but I certainly will try it!
Jenna von x
Helen
You could always make them for yourself 🙂
When I was a kid a special treat was adding loads of grated cheese to our tomato soup. I think the toast makes it even yummier!