Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice

Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice is creamy, silky and surprisingly simple to make. Fresh orange juice brightens the rich tomato flavor without making the soup overly sweet or citrusy.

This Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice is one of my favorite twists on classic tomato soup. A splash of fresh orange juice adds just enough brightness to complement the tomatoes without overpowering them, while cream gives the soup its smooth, velvety finish. It comes together in about 30 minutes with simple ingredients, but tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant.

Why You’ll Love This Tomato Bisque

Fresh orange juice gives this creamy tomato bisque an unexpected brightness while still letting the tomato flavor take center stage.

• Bright, balanced flavor: Orange juice adds subtle sweetness and citrus that complements the tomatoes rather than overpowering them.
• Smooth and creamy: Blending and straining create the silky texture that makes this soup feel restaurant-worthy.
• Simple ingredients: Canned tomatoes make this easy to prepare year-round with ingredients that are readily available.
• Ready in about 30 minutes: It’s quick enough for lunch or a weeknight dinner.
• Easy to adjust: Start with less orange juice and add more to suit your taste.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This tomato and orange soup starts with simple ingredients, with fresh orange juice providing the flavor that makes it special.

• Butter: Adds richness and is used to soften the onion.
• Yellow onion: Just enough to give the tomato base savory depth without dominating it.
• Diced tomatoes: Canned tomatoes make this soup quick, easy and consistent year-round.
• Salt: Enhances the tomatoes and balances the citrus.
• Baking soda: A small amount mellows the acidity of the tomatoes and helps eliminate that sometimes noticeable canned-tomato taste.
• Dried thyme: Adds a subtle savory, herbal note.
• Orange juice: Fresh-squeezed is best. Start with about half the amount and add more to taste so the orange complements rather than overwhelms the tomato.
• Heavy cream: Gives the bisque its rich, velvety finish.
• Olive oil: Optional for drizzling over individual servings.

How to Make Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice

This soup comes together quickly, and the extra step of blending and straining is what gives it such a beautifully smooth texture.

• Soften the onion: Melt the butter in a saucepan and cook the onion until translucent.
• Simmer the tomatoes: Add the diced tomatoes, salt, baking soda and thyme. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, until the tomatoes have broken down and the mixture has thickened.
  
• Blend until smooth: Carefully puree the tomato mixture in a blender or immersion blender until completely smooth.

• Strain the soup: For super smooth texture, pour the puree through a fine-mesh sieve back into the saucepan. This removes the tomato skins, seeds and fibers for a silky texture.

• Add the orange juice: Begin with about ½ cup, taste, and gradually add more as desired. The orange should be noticeable but shouldn’t overpower the tomato.

• Finish with cream: Stir in the heavy cream and heat gently without boiling. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.

Tips for the Best Tomato Bisque

A few simple details make the difference between a good tomato soup and one that’s exceptionally smooth and balanced.

• Use fresh orange juice when possible. Its clean, bright flavor works especially well in such a simple soup.
• Add the orange juice gradually. Oranges vary in sweetness and acidity, so tasting as you go gives you the best balance.
• Don’t skip the fine-mesh sieve. Blending makes the soup smooth, but straining is what gives it that especially silky finish.
• Let the tomato mixture thicken before blending. If it’s too thin, the finished bisque won’t have the same rich texture.
• Don’t boil after adding the cream. Warm the finished soup gently over low heat.

Substitutions and Variations

The original version is my favorite, but there are a few easy ways to adjust the soup to what you have on hand.

• Half-and-half: Substitute for the heavy cream for a slightly lighter finish.
• Without cream: Leave out the cream for a lighter tomato orange soup; it won’t have quite the same rich bisque texture.
• Olive oil: Use in place of butter if you’d like to make the soup dairy-free.
• Bottled orange juice: Fresh is best, but 100% orange juice can be used in a pinch.
• Fresh tomatoes: Use about 4–5 cups chopped fresh tomatoes and allow additional simmering time so the mixture reduces sufficiently.

Storage and Reheating

Tomato bisque keeps well in the refrigerator, making it an easy soup to prepare ahead for lunches or dinner.

• Refrigerate: Cool completely and store in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
• Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over low to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Avoid bringing the cream-based soup to a hard boil.
• Make ahead: The soup can be prepared in advance and reheated just before serving. Add a splash of cream if needed to restore the consistency.

What to Serve with Tomato Bisque

This creamy tomato bisque makes a cozy light meal on its own and is especially good paired with something crisp, cheesy or fresh.

• Grilled cheese sandwiches are the obvious classic and perfect for dipping.
• Crusty bread or toasted sourdough makes an easy accompaniment.
• A simple green salad balances the rich, creamy soup.
• Vegetable Macaroni and Cheese makes the meal extra comforting.
• Quiche pairs well with a cup of bisque for lunch or brunch.
• Pasta Salad with Burrata is a nice option when you want a soup-and-salad meal.

FAQ

Can I make tomato bisque with orange juice ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare the soup, cool it and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop before serving.

Why add orange juice to tomato soup?
Orange juice adds brightness, subtle sweetness and acidity that complements the tomatoes. The goal isn’t to make the soup taste strongly of orange, but to give classic tomato soup a fresher, more complex flavor.

What does baking soda do in tomato soup?
A small amount of baking soda neutralizes some of the tomatoes’ acidity, giving the soup a smoother, more balanced flavor without adding sugar.

Do I have to strain the tomato bisque?
No, but I recommend it. Straining the blended soup through a fine-mesh sieve removes skins, seeds and fibers and gives the bisque its especially smooth, silky texture.

Can I make this tomato soup without cream?
Yes. The soup is delicious before the cream is added, although it will be lighter and won’t have the same rich bisque-like finish.

Can I use fresh tomatoes?
Yes. Use about 4–5 cups chopped fresh tomatoes and allow them to simmer longer as needed so the mixture reduces and thickens before blending.

This Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice has become one of my favorite ways to make classic tomato soup a little more special. The orange adds brightness without taking over, while the cream and extra-smooth texture keep it wonderfully cozy and comforting. Serve it with a grilled cheese or crusty bread and you’ve got a simple meal that’s anything but ordinary.

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5 from 5 votes

Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice

This creamy Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice is smooth and silky with rich tomato flavor and a subtle citrusy brightness. Made with simple ingredients and ready in about 30 minutes, it’s an easy, comforting soup that pairs perfectly with crusty bread or grilled cheese.

Course Meatless Main Dish, Side Dish or Vegetarian Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 cups

Calories 337

Author Sally Humeniuk

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ½ cup butter (1 stick)
• ¼ cup yellow onion diced
• 2 (14 ½-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp salt more or less to taste
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• 1 cup fresh orange juice divided or to taste
• ½ cup heavy cream plus more to drizzle
• olive oil for drizzling (optional)
• fresh black pepper for serving

Instructions

• Cook the tomato mixture. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent. Stir in the tomatoes, salt, baking soda, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, until the tomatoes have broken down and the mixture has thickened.
  ½ cup butter, ¼ cup yellow onion, 2 (14 ½-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, ¼ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp dried thyme
• Blend and strain. Carefully puree the tomato mixture in a blender (or immersion blender) until smooth. Pour the soup through a fine mesh strainer back into the pan for the smoothest texture (you can skip this step if your soup looks smooth enough).
• Add the orange juice. Stir in ½ cup of the orange juice and taste. Gradually add more until the orange flavor is noticeable but doesn't overpower the tomatoes. For a dairy-free soup, you can serve it at this point.
  1 cup fresh orange juice
• Finish with cream. Stir in the heavy cream and heat gently until warmed through; do not boil. Taste and adjust the salt if needed.
  ½ cup heavy cream
• Serve. Ladle into bowls and, if desired, drizzle with additional cream and/or olive oil. Finish with freshly ground black pepper and serve with crusty bread or grilled cheese.
  olive oil, fresh black pepper

Equipment

Blender or food processor

Fine mesh sieve

Medium saucepan

Notes

• Add the orange juice to taste. Start with ½ cup and add more gradually. Oranges vary in sweetness and acidity, so you may not need the full cup.
• Don't rush the simmering step. The tomato mixture should noticeably thicken before blending. If cream drizzled over the finished soup immediately sinks, the soup likely needed a little more time to reduce.
• For super smooth texture, strain the soup. A fine-mesh sieve removes tomato skins, seeds, and fibers and gives the bisque its silky finish.
• Serving size: This recipe makes about 4 cups, enough for 4 smaller servings alongside sandwiches or about 2 main-dish servings.

Nutrition Facts

Tomato Bisque with Orange Juice

Amount Per Serving

Calories 337 Calories from Fat 306

% Daily Value*

Fat 34g52%

Saturated Fat 21g131%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 9g

Cholesterol 95mg32%

Sodium 1132mg49%

Potassium 176mg5%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Fiber 0.3g1%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 1280IU26%

Vitamin C 32mg39%

Calcium 39mg4%

Iron 0.3mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.