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They’re warm, liquid, and tomato based, but what is the difference between all three of thesehot tomato dishes?
The Short Answer:
These three soups differ from one another based on several ingredients and preparation methods.
The Long Answer:
Tomato soup is often best enjoyed alongside a piping hot grilled cheese sandwich. It’s something I think most people universally agree upon. But I’ve found that everyone’s favorite melty cheese based sandwich can be equally enjoyed amongst tomato soup’s first cousins, cream of tomato soup and tomato bisque. (Is it a vegetable soup?Find out here.)
Let’s get into it and figure out where these three delightful comfort foods intersect and differ.
We will start with tomato soup. The old tried and true American favorite.
Most tomato soup that is prepared commercially comes either canned, condensed, or dehydrated.
Most canned tomato soup is composed of tomato puree, which is just tomato paste and water. A few other ingredients are also thrown in there such as wheat flour and (unfortunately) high fructose corn syrup.
Canned soup comes ready to heat and cook while condensed soup has had a lot of its water removed. It is prepared by heating it along with milk or water. Dehydrated soup has had all of the water removed and comes as a powder thatyou have to add hot water to.
So there you have it. Tomato soup is prettyeasy and straightforward. But what about cream of tomato soup?
Any “cream of” soup, tomato included, is pureed like a normal soup but then goes through a “creaming” process, wherein cream is added to the mixture. Cream of tomato soup is actually cooked at a much lower temperature than normal tomato soup. That’s because, at a high temperature, the cream would curdle or scale easily. When making cream of tomato soup, most chefs will heat the puree to about 185 degrees Fahrenheit before slowly stirring in the cream.
This creates a thicker “creamier” version of the tomato soup we justtalked about.
When talking about tomato bisque, things get a little dicey. (Heh…dice….tomatoes…I’ll stop…)
Bisque is of French origin and it commonly used to describe a highly seasoned and creamy French soup that is made from the strained broth of crustaceans such as crab, shrimp, crayfish, and lobster.
Because of this distinction, there are many who argue that tomato bisque is not a true bisque at all because it has no crustacean products mixed in. However, the term has evolved in modern day to include cream based soup such as squash, mushroom, and tomato.
So that begs the question, what’s the difference between a tomato bisque and cream of tomato soup? After combing through countless recipes I can honestly say there doesn’t seem to be much of a difference. They can be seasoned a little differently, but inessencethese two soups are the same thing.
So what’s your favorite out of these three? Do you think there’s a difference between cream of tomato and tomato bisque? Sound off in the comment section below and let us know!
FAQs
What is the difference between tomato soup and Tomato Bisque? Tomato soup is usually made with either vegetable or chicken stock. Tomato bisque is made by adding cream or whole milk. The dairy is what makes it thicker and creamier, which gives it the defining traits of a bisque.
Is tomato bisque the same as cream of tomato soup? ›
While both are delicious, they are quite different, especially when it comes to the texture. Tomato bisque is thicker and creamier in texture, and calls for the use of milk and/or cream.
What is the difference between bisque and cream soup? ›
Key Differences
Ingredients: Bisque is often made with seafood and enriched with heavy cream, whereas soup can be made with a wide range of ingredients, offering more versatility. Consistency: Bisque is consistently smooth and velvety, while soup can have a diverse range of consistencies, depending on the recipe.
What makes a bisque a bisque? ›
What Is Bisque? A bisque is a thick cream soup that chefs purée and strain for a fine, smooth final result. Traditional bisque recipes feature seafood like lobster, crayfish, shrimp, or crab as the main ingredient—chefs typically grind the crustacean shells into a fine paste to thicken the mixture.
Can you eat tomato bisque on its own? ›
They even asked for seconds. Tomato bisque is a great way to sneak some more veggies into your family's diet! The creamy and delicious soup is packed with flavor, and seriously stands as an entire meal on its own. So enjoy and don't forget to freeze the leftovers!
Why is it called cream of tomato soup? ›
But what about cream of tomato soup? Any “cream of” soup, tomato included, is pureed like a normal soup but then goes through a “creaming” process, wherein cream is added to the mixture. Cream of tomato soup is actually cooked at a much lower temperature than normal tomato soup.
What's in Campbell's tomato bisque? ›
WATER, TOMATO PASTE, DICED TOMATOES (TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUMCHLORIDE), CANOLA OIL, CREAM, SUGAR, ONIONS, BUTTER, SALT, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, BASIL, YEASTEXTRACT (BARLEY), WHEAT FLOUR, MODIFIED MILK INGREDIENTS, DRIED GARLIC, DRIED PARSLEY, ONIONPOWDER, ANNATTO, SPICES (CONTAINS CHILLIES).
What is the thickener in bisque? ›
A bisque is a smooth, creamy French style of soup, traditionally made from crustaceans like lobster, crab or crayfish. It should include a stock made from the shells, a large amount of cream, and a thickening agent made from either finely-ground shells or rice.
Why is it called bisque? ›
The word bisque, "crayfish soup" in French, stems either from the Bay of Biscay or the technique of bis cuites, or "twice cooked."
What is very thick soup called? ›
A potage is a category of thick soups, stews, or porridges, in some of which meat and vegetables are boiled together with water until they form a thick mush. Bisques are heavy cream soups traditionally prepared with shellfish, but can be made with any type of seafood or other base ingredients.
Traditional bisque typically does not contain rice. Bisque is a smooth and creamy soup that is classically made with shellfish, such as lobster or shrimp, and their shells. The shells are often used to infuse the soup with flavor during the cooking process.
How long does tomato bisque last in the fridge? ›
Leftovers are good in the fridge for up to 4 days. Be sure to store in an airtight container and only reheat as much as you plan on eating at any one time. Reheating then re-chilling is the perfect recipe for bacteria and food-borne illness.
Is bisque thick or thin? ›
Bisque. A bisque is a creamy, thick soup that includes shellfish. Bisque is a method of extracting flavour from imperfect crabs, lobsters and shrimp that are traditionally not good enough to send to market. In an authentic bisque, the shells are ground to a fine paste and added to thicken the soup.
Is creamy tomato soup the same as tomato bisque? ›
What is the difference between tomato soup and Tomato Bisque? Tomato soup is usually made with either vegetable or chicken stock. Tomato bisque is made by adding cream or whole milk. The dairy is what makes it thicker and creamier, which gives it the defining traits of a bisque.
What to put in tomato soup to make it taste better? ›
10 Simple Ingredients to Add to Tomato Soup
- 1) Fresh Rosemary. Kicking off the list is the simplest way to jazz up your tomato soup – fresh herbs. ...
- 2) Sauteed Onions. ...
- 3) Crispy Bacon. ...
- 4) Cream. ...
- 5) Chutney. ...
- 6) Melted Cheese. ...
- 7) Tinned Anchovies. ...
- 8) Toasted Pine Nuts.
Tomato soup is an excellent source of antioxidants, including lycopene, flavonoids, and vitamins C and E, among many others ( 3 , 7 ). Consuming antioxidants has been linked with a lower risk of cancer and inflammation-related diseases, such as obesity and heart disease ( 3 , 8 , 9 ).
Can I use tomato bisque instead of tomato paste? ›
Tomato soup
It does have a similar flavor to tomato paste, but it's sweeter and contains significantly more liquid. That can cause your recipe to turn out runny. If it's your only option, go for it, but you'll need to reduce the other liquid ingredients in the recipe.
What is the difference between soup and stew and bisque? ›
Bisques and chowders are thickened, often with a roux or flour and usually have milk or cream added to them as well. Stews are distant cousins of soups. A stew is a dish consisting of a combination of meats, fish and or vegetables that is stewed or cooked slowly in a covered dish with very little liquid.
Is cream of tomato soup condensed? ›
Product Description. Campbells Cream of Tomato Soup, Condensed Soup, 6 Tins. There's a reason that Campbells Condensed Tomato Soup reigns supreme. Every tin is made with 6 quality, farm-grown tomatoes cooked to perfection and loaded with comforting spoonfuls that burst with exceptional flavour.
