Air Fryer Tomato & Bean Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons
Indulge in this Air Fryer Tomato And White Bean Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons and effortlessly create a comforting classic with a modern twist!
Why is Homemade Tomato Soup better?
Homemade tomato soup offers a level of comfort and satisfaction that canned versions simply can’t match. Beyond the incredible taste, crafting your own tomato soup allows for complete control over the ingredients and flavours. By choosing fresh, ripe tomatoes at their peak, you infuse your soup with a depth of flavour that far surpasses the often overly sweet and occasionally metallic taste found in many canned varieties.
Let’s not forget the nutritional benefits of making it at home! When you prepare it from scratch, you ensure that every ingredient is as fresh and wholesome as possible with no vitamins and nutrients lost to the high-heat canning process. This also means no emulsifiers, excessive sodium, transfats and no artificial preservatives or colourants that are frequently present in canned alternatives. The addition of creamy, tender white beans to your tomato soup, not only adds a hefty dose of protein, nutrients and fibre, but once blended, adds a natural silkiness to the finished product.
Roast and Toast
Tomato soup and grilled cheese are a classic comfort food combination, evoking a sense of nostalgia for many. This rich, tangy tomato and bean soup paired with the creamy, cheesy goodness of a grilled cheese sandwich is a nod to childhood and comfort food.
When done right, it’s a classic that strikes the perfect balance of being healthy, comforting, and nostalgic.
Here, the cooking is as easy as the eating. The air fryer heats quickly, making short work of roasting the tomatoes, onions, and garlic. We layer these ingredients, with onions on the bottom and tomatoes on top, allowing the tomato juices to soak into the onions. This shields them from the intense heat, gently cooking them down to a jammy and delicious consistency.
Transfer all the veggies into a blender, add your white beans and blend with stock (chicken or veg, dealer’s choice), while you prepare a few grilled cheese sandwiches in the air fryer. The air fryer excels at crafting perfect grilled cheese. The convection heat results in an ideal crispy and golden exterior, and a molten middle, with minimum mess and fussing – all in record time! Once cooked, trim the crusts, cut them into squares, and scatter them on top of your bowls of soup for a grilled cheesy goodness in every bite.
The Air Fryer’s Secret
The Easiest Tomato and White Bean Soup – Thanks to Your Air Fryer. Okay, so here’s the scoop: Making tomato soup has never been quicker, all thanks to your trusty air fryer. But guess what? You’ve got options. You can also whip up this goodness in your oven. Now, let me tell you why air frying is my jam. First off, there’s no preheating fuss – air fryers heat up almost instantly. So, you’re not left twiddling your thumbs waiting for that oven to warm up. Plus, here’s the money-saving secret: air fryers are smaller and use about as much electricity as your hairdryer. It’s like getting a delicious meal without the extra hassle and costs.
Bean there, done that.
Adding white beans to your tomato soup is a clever way to boost creaminess without adding dairy. These beans have a subtle, nutty flavour that complements the tangy sweetness of tomatoes perfectly. Once you blend them into the soup, they create a smooth, velvety texture that’s incredibly satisfying. Not only do they enhance the soup’s consistency, but they also add a good dose of protein and fibre. This combination makes your tomato soup more filling and nutritious. So, next time you’re whipping up a pot of tomato soup, toss in a handful of white beans. You’ll love the rich, creamy result without any extra cream or butter!
Rate your Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Croutons
Have you savoured our Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons? We’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’re up for more culinary adventures, don’t miss our Chicken Soup with Scissor Noodles or the exquisite Miso French Onion Soup.
Your feedback is our secret ingredient, so share your experience in the comments, rate the recipes, and don’t forget to tag your creations with #theculinarycartel on Instagram so we can see what you come up with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the key to a flavourful tomato soup?
Roasting ripe tomatoes enhances their natural sweetness and intensifies their rich flavor,. Choose ripe tomatoes for the best taste.
Can I make the soup without an air fryer?
Absolutely! You can use a regular oven to achieve a similar result. It will however take a bit longer and you will need to adjust the temperature and cook time slightly- see below.
Can I customise the cheese selection for the croutons?
Certainly! Experiment with different cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend for varied flavour profiles. I love adding a blend of cheese, one for that perfect gooey melt and one for flavour, giving you the best of both worlds. The perfect cheesy pull and depth of flavour.
Can I make a large batch and freeze the soup?
While the soup freezes well, consider making fresh croutons when serving for the best texture.
Any tips for reheating the soup and maintaining its texture?
If frozen defrost completely. Reheat the soup gently on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally, to preserve its smooth and velvety consistency.
Air Fryer Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 1 onion, peeled and sliced
- 900g tomatoes, halved
- 1 head of garlic
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
- 1/2 tin of white beans, drained and rinsed
- Few sprigs of thyme
- Splash of cream (optional)
- Oil, salt, and pepper as needed
For the Grilled Cheese Croutons:
- 4 slices of sandwich loaf
- 4 slices of pepper jack or chilli cheddar cheese (or regular cheddar and chilli flakes)
- 2 tbsp Aioli or mayo
- Chilli Crisp* (found at most Asian supermarkets) *optional, or replace with more chilli flakes
Instructions
*Don’t have an air fryer? Oven instructions are included at the end of this recipe too.
- Prep your veg as directed, and slice off the top ¼ of your garlic bulb to expose the cloves under the papery skin.
- In a roasting dish suitably sized for your air fryer, add your sliced onions, chilli flakes, a drizzle of oil and salt and pepper to taste. Toss the ingredients together.
- Place the halved tomatoes on top of the onions, cut side up, and place the garlic bulb cut side down on top of the onions. Pick the thyme from the stems, then scatter this over the tomatoes, along with another small drizzle of oil and salt and pepper.
In the Air Fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 160°C (320°F).
- Air fry the vegetables for 40 minutes or until they are nicely slow-roasted and tender, and the garlic squeezes easily from the skin. Air fryers can vary slightly so add a little more or less time as needed.
- After roasting, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skin, and discard the skins
- Transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender, add the white beans, and a splash of cream (if using). Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For the Grilled Cheese Croutons:
- Spread aioli or mayo on one side of each sandwich loaf slice. Place a slice of cheese between two slices of bread, mayo-side out.
- Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (390°F).
- Air fry the cheese sandwiches for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until they are golden and crispy.
- Remove the crusts, then cut the grilled cheese sandwiches into small cubes.
- Ladle the roasted tomato and white bean soup into bowls, and garnish each serving with the grilled cheese croutons, and a drizzle of olive oil.
In the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Follow the same steps as above for layering the veg in a roasting tray.
- When the vegetables are nearly done roasting, prepare the grilled cheese croutons on your stovetop. Simply assemble the cheese sandwiches as instructed, then cook them in a skillet or a non-stick frying pan over medium heat until they are crispy and the cheese has melted. allow to cool slightly then cut into squares.
- Transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender, add the white beans, thyme leaves (removed from the sprigs), and a splash of cream (if using). Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Portion into bowls, and serve hot, with your gooey grilled cheese croutons, and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Method: Air Fryer
2 Responses
Delicious – have made this for family and friends a few times now and it’s a beautiful hearty flavour 🙂 works in airfryer, oven, and even without a blender
So happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to review it