Hearty Dutch Tomato Soup with Homemade Meatballs & Crispy Bacon: A Family Favorite
Craving a soup that’s not only incredibly warm and flavorful but also remarkably easy to prepare? Look no further than this delightful Dutch Tomato Soup with Meatballs and Crispy Bacon. It’s a true culinary embrace in a bowl – wonderfully creamy, subtly sweet, and bursting with the fresh, robust taste of ripe tomatoes. What makes this recipe truly special are the tender, melt-in-your-mouth mini meatballs and the delightful crunch of savory bacon bits that add an extra layer of texture and umami.
This isn’t just a meal; it’s genuine comfort food that brings everyone together. The best part? You won’t need a pantry full of exotic ingredients, and the steps are surprisingly straightforward. Whether you’re planning a cozy family dinner or simply yearning for a comforting bowl of soup on a quiet evening, this recipe is guaranteed to impress. It’s a hearty, satisfying dish that warms you from the inside out, making it a perfect staple for any home cook.
The Secret to Our Easy Homemade Tomato Soup with Bacon and Mini Meatballs
In our home, Sundays often transform into “soup days.” It’s a cherished tradition where I get to slow down, enjoy the process of baking some crusty bread, and then we all gather around the table for a heartwarming meal. This homemade tomato soup holds a special place among our family favorites. My children absolutely adore it, my husband consistently goes back for second (and sometimes third!) helpings, and whenever friends visit, they invariably ask for the recipe. Its inviting aroma fills the kitchen, its taste speaks of pure homemade goodness, and it’s a dish that never fails to deliver a delightful experience.
The inspiration for this particular recipe stems from a classic Dutch tomato soup I enjoyed countless times during my childhood. However, over the years, I’ve lovingly developed and adapted it, adding my unique twist to elevate its flavors. One of my favorite additions is fresh sage, an incredibly easy and fast-growing herb I cultivate in my garden. Just a few fresh sage leaves can deepen and warm the entire flavor profile of the soup, transforming it from good to truly exceptional. It might seem like a small detail, but it genuinely makes a remarkable difference. If you’ve never experimented with sage in your cooking before, this creamy Dutch tomato soup is an excellent and forgiving recipe to introduce you to its wonderful aromatic qualities.
The beauty of making soup from scratch is the control you have over the ingredients, ensuring a wholesome and delicious meal every time. This recipe captures that essence, combining fresh, simple components to create a rich and satisfying broth. The tiny, tender meatballs, perfectly seasoned, add a lovely bite, while the salty, crisp bacon bits provide a contrasting texture and a burst of savory flavor that complements the sweet tomatoes beautifully. It’s a symphony of tastes and textures designed to delight every palate.
Expert Tips for the Best Creamy Dutch Tomato Soup for Family Dinners
Every recipe on my blog is thoroughly tested to ensure you get the best results. Here are my tried-and-true tips for making this creamy, flavorful Dutch tomato soup with meatballs truly exceptional:
- Choose Ripe or Overripe Tomatoes: This is crucial for flavor. Ripe tomatoes are naturally sweeter and less acidic, lending a richer, deeper taste to your soup. Don’t be afraid of slightly soft or bruised tomatoes; they are often the most flavorful for cooking. Their intense sweetness means less need for added sugar later.
- Slow Cook the Onion and Sage: Patience here pays off. Cooking the onion and fresh sage slowly over low heat allows the onions to caramelize gently and the sage to release its full aromatic potential. This process develops a sweet, soft base that forms the backbone of the soup’s incredible flavor. Rushing this step will result in a less complex taste.
- Blend and Strain for Ultimate Smoothness: For that signature creamy texture, blending the soup until completely smooth is essential. After blending, pushing the soup through a fine-mesh sieve ensures no seeds or skin fragments remain, resulting in an exceptionally silky and refined consistency. This step is key for a truly luxurious soup experience.
- Fry Bacon Separately Until Crispy: To maintain the delightful crunch of the bacon, always fry the bacon bits separately before adding them to the finished soup. If you cook them in the soup from the start, they will become soft and lose their appealing texture. Sprinkling them on top or stirring them in at the last minute preserves their crispiness.
- Make Small Meatballs: Bite-sized meatballs are not only easier to eat but also cook much faster, ensuring they remain tender and juicy without overcooking. Roll them small, roughly half an inch in diameter, for the best results and a uniform cooking time within the soup.
- Balance the Flavor with Sugar and Kecap Manis: Tomatoes can sometimes be quite acidic. Adding a touch of sugar helps to balance this acidity and enhances their natural sweetness. Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce) or Kecap Medja is a Dutch-Indonesian staple that adds a wonderful layer of umami and a subtle sweetness, contributing to the soup’s distinctive Dutch character. It provides depth that plain sugar alone cannot.
- A Spoon of Cream for Richness: While optional, a swirl of heavy cream (or a dairy-free alternative) added to individual servings just before eating elevates the soup to a new level of richness and indulgence. It adds a beautiful visual appeal and a velvety texture that complements the tomato perfectly.
- Double the Recipe and Freeze for Later: This soup is perfect for meal prepping. Make a larger batch and freeze half (without the cream) in airtight containers. It’s a lifesaver on busy weekdays, offering a quick and wholesome homemade meal with minimal effort. Simply thaw and reheat gently on the stove.
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📖 Recipe: Classic Dutch Tomato Soup
VIDEO
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and cut into small pieces
- 6 fresh sage, chopped leaves
- 2.2 lbs fresh, ripe tomatoes, quartered
- 4 cups beef broth
- 4½ cups sieved tomatoes, Passata
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 oz. bacon bits, fried until crispy
- 2 tablespoons Kecap Manis, or Kecap Medja
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 oz. ground beef, rolled into small meatballs
- Fresh Parsley, fresh, for garnish
- heavy cream, optional, for serving
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the finely chopped onion and fresh sage leaves. Sauté gently for about 3 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent, allowing the sage to infuse its aroma without browning.2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 onion, 6 fresh sage
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Now, add the quartered fresh tomatoes to the pot. Place the lid on the pan and let the tomatoes steam for about 2 minutes. This brief steaming helps soften the tomatoes, making them easier to blend and release their juices.2.2 lbs tomatoes
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Pour in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and let it cook for 20 minutes. This allows all the flavors to meld beautifully.4 cups beef broth
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Remove the pot from the heat. Carefully blend the soup using an immersion blender until it is completely smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, transfer the soup in batches to a regular blender (be cautious with hot liquids, blend in small amounts, and vent the lid).
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For an extra silky texture, push the blended soup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot. This step removes any remaining tomato skins and seeds, ensuring a wonderfully smooth consistency. Discard the solids.
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Return the smooth, sieved soup to the clean pot and place it back on the stove over medium-low heat.
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Stir in the sieved tomatoes (Passata), sugar, and Kecap Manis (or Kecap Medja). Add the already fried crispy bacon bits. Stir everything thoroughly to combine the flavors.4½ cups sieved tomatoes, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 tablespoons Kecap Manis, 4 oz. bacon bits
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Allow the soup to gently simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing all the new ingredients to fully integrate. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. This is where you fine-tune the flavor to your preference.salt and pepper
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Add the small, uncooked ground beef meatballs directly into the simmering soup. Let them cook gently in the hot liquid for about 15 minutes, or until they are fully cooked through and tender. Their juices will further enrich the soup’s flavor.4 oz. ground beef
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Ladle the hot, creamy Dutch tomato soup into individual bowls. For an extra touch of indulgence, swirl in a little heavy cream and garnish with fresh parsley. This soup is absolutely delightful served with warm, crusty bread for dipping. Enjoy your homemade comfort!Fresh Parsley, heavy cream
Notes
2. What if I don’t have fresh sage? While fresh sage adds a unique depth, you can certainly use other herbs. Thyme or basil are excellent substitutes that will still yield a delicious soup, though the flavor profile will shift slightly. Use about 1 teaspoon of dried sage, or 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped basil or thyme for a similar quantity.
3. Serving Suggestions: This Dutch Tomato Soup is fantastic on its own, but it truly shines when served with a side of crusty bread for dipping, a grilled cheese sandwich, or a light green salad for a complete meal. For an extra boost of freshness, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese or a dollop of crème fraîche also makes a wonderful addition.
4. Storage & Reheating:
- Refrigerator: Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: This soup freezes beautifully! Freeze in individual portions, ideally without the added cream, for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator or gently reheat from frozen on the stove.
- Reheating: Gently warm the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Avoid boiling vigorously, especially if it contains meatballs, to prevent them from becoming tough. Add a splash of broth or water if it’s too thick.
Nutrition
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More Delicious Soup Recipes to Explore
If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting warmth of this Dutch Tomato Soup, you’re in for a treat! We have a wide array of other delightful soup recipes that are perfect for any occasion, from light lunches to hearty dinners. Each one is crafted to bring flavor and joy to your table.
- 7 Delicious Asian Soups You Must Try
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