Hearty Tomato Florentine Soup
Hearty Tomato Florentine Soup is loaded with pasta, diced tomatoes, and spinach for a simple but filling recipe you can make with pantry staples!
Making This Tomato Spinach Soup
I’m going to tell you a little story that doesn’t really relate to this tomato Florentine soup recipe. Except that in the end you’ll see how the two are related after all.
One of the (many) things I’ve learned through motherhood is that my plans will never always go as planned. More often than not, something throws a kink in the plan and changes our course.
It can be as simple as the dinner plans, or as major as a move you’d planned on for the last year not working out.
For someone who’s a planner at heart, these situations are always kind of a bummer. It’s a difficult thing to have your heart and mind set on something, no matter how small or large, only to take an unexpected turn in another direction.
Sometimes those changes end up being for the best, but you never know until after the fact.
My husband and I have been planning for the last year that we’d be moving in the Fall of 2011. One thing lead to another and Plan A didn’t pan out, so we went with the flow and moved on to Plan B.
Then Plan A was on again but we were already committed to Plan B. And then Plan B fell through.
So here we are.
Still in New Mexico for at least another year and not really understanding why. Because one of these days I’m going to realize that I shouldn’t rely on my plans too much, I’m always glad to have a few more back ups in my reserves.
★★★★★
Amber says –
“Made this tonight–substituted zucchini for spinach because it was what I had! Also added some thyme, basil, Worcestershire sauce, and a dash of hot sauce. Soo good with grilled cheeses!”
Why I Love Tomato Florentine Soup
I have to thank my aunt for this recipe. I had given her a copy of Soups, Stews and Chilis for Christmas because she loves soups.
Every time we talk she has another list of recipes that they have tried and loved. I knew I had to try this Tomato Florentine Soup Recipe when she mentioned it during our last conversation.
I’m sure I would have made this one eventually, but the recommendation couldn’t have come at a better time.
Diced tomatoes are something I always have on hand, which makes this soup a great pantry meal. For days when the plans are thrown by the wayside I like to have a few pantry meals, like this Easy Tomato Florentine Soup, up my sleeve.
It’s a comforting thing to still be able to put a healthy, enjoyable meal on the table at dinner time even if other aspects of the day have been crazy.
Three cheers for a well stocked pantry!
Tomato Florentine Soup Ingredients
To make this spinach tomato pasta soup, you’ll need the following basic ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Butter
- Yellow Onion
- Tomato Paste
- Brown Sugar
- Diced Tomatoes
- Garlic Cloves
- All-Purpose Flour
- Bay Leaves
- Vegetable Broth or Chicken Stock
- Mini Penne Pasta
- Fresh Spinach
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Balsamic Vinegar
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this chunky tomato soup, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Tomato Florentine Soup
This tomato spinach soup is incredibly easy to make, and the whole recipe comes together in about an hour.
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions and saute for until soft.
- Add the brown sugar, tomato paste, and the drained diced tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes begin to dry.
- Add the garlic to the dutch oven, stir, and cook for about 1 minute.
- Stir in the flour and continue to cook for another minute.
- Stir in the reserved tomato juice and bay leaves.
- Add 1 cup of broth at a time, whisking after each addition, until desired consistency is reached.
- Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, spinach, and balsamic vinegar.
The above is simply a quick summary of this hearty soup recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
★★★★★
Alex C. says –
“I made it, it was sooo good. Thanks.”
Tomato Florentine Soup FAQs
Got questions about how to make this tomato spinach soup? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
Can I use a different pasta shape?
Sure! Small pasta shells, mini farfalle, or ditalini pasta all work well in this tomato florentine soup recipe.
What type of spinach should I use to make this recipe?
I like to use fresh baby spinach. However, you can also use frozen spinach or even freeze dried spinach. For frozen spinach, thaw it first and squeeze out excess moisture. Then, chop it.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Yes, this soup can be frozen in a freezer-safe airtight container. I love to make an extra large pot on a cold day so I can stash some away in the freezer for future meals.
However, I recommend freezing leftovers without the pasta in it for best results. Just add the pasta later when you plan to serve it as pasta can become mushy when frozen in soups.
For more information, check out this how to freeze soup tutorial.
★★★★★
Tina says –
“Made this last night and we all loved it! Thank you.”
What to Serve with Tomato Florentine Soup
This is quite a hearty hearty tomato soup, so you don’t need much in the way of sides. A simple green side salad or a loaf of crusty bread would pair perfectly with the soup!
Other sides to try are:
- Whole Wheat Baguette
- Rustic Rosemary Bread
- Italian Mixed Greens Salad
- Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
- Parmesan & Onion Beer Bread Muffins
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
What Reader Say About this Fan Favorite Soup
★★★★★
Annie says –
“It’s been a rainy, chilly few days, so I knew it was the perfect time to try this soup. It was so tasty–and I love the fact that I already had 90% of the ingredients. Such a great recipe!”
Try this Tomato Florentine Soup at Home!
Next time you’re looking for a hearty tomato soup for a chilly day, give this tomato spinach soup a try!
Did you think it was pure comfort food? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great recipe.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this spinach and tomato soup recipe!
★★★★★
Debbie says –
“Made this for supper….VERY VERY GOOD!!! Serving it with some very garlicky bread and salad.”
More Winter Soup Recipes:
Fresh kale, cannellini beans, and sweet Italian sausage combine to make the best Italian Sausage Kale White Bean Soup. This is an easy one-pot soup recipe that takes just 30 minutes to prepare!
This Smoked Sausage and Lentil Soup is packed with lentils, hearty winter vegetables, smoked sausage, and spices. It’s a freezer-friendly recipe that’s great for meal prepping!
Roasted butternut squash and garlic are pureed with onion, carrot, broth, and half and half for a silky smooth, creamy, savory Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. Top it with bacon and sage for perfection.
If you’re looking for a creamy, rich and flavorful soup, try this Italian Sausage Kale Soup. It’s a lightened up version of an Olive Garden Classic and crowd favorite, Zuppa Toscana.
This Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo is a great clean out the fridge recipe! It’s packed with veggies, Italian sausage, orzo, and more!
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Hearty Tomato Florentine Soup
Hearty Tomato Florentine Soup is loaded with pasta, diced tomatoes, and spinach for a simple but filling recipe you can make with pantry staples!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 3 - 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes, drained and juice reserved
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic, about 3 cloves
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 bay leaves
- 3-5 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups mini penne, cooked
- 10 ounces baby spinach, chopped*
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions and saute for 3 minutes. Add the brown sugar, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes (reserve juices for a later use).
- Cook until the tomatoes begin to dry, about 13 minutes.
- Add the garlic to the dutch oven, stir, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the flour and continue to cook for another minute.
- Stir in the reserved tomato juice and bay leaves.
- Add 1 cup of broth at a time, whisking after each addition, until desired consistency is reached.
- Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves.
- Stir in the pasta, spinach, and balsamic vinegar.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve with Baguette or Rustic Rosemary Garlic Bread and freshly grated Parmesan.
Notes
adapted from Soups, Stews and Chilis
*Frozen spinach may be substituted. First, thaw the spinach and then squeeze excess water until the spinach is dry.
Another alternative is to use 3/4 - 1 cup Freeze Dried Spinach, which I prefer because I have all the ingredients at any time and I don't have to fuss with thawing frozen spinach.
Just stir it directly into the soup before serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 232Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 2339mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 7gSugar: 17gProtein: 7g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Amber says
Made this tonight–substituted zucchinie for spinach because it was what I had! Also added some thyme, basil, Worcestershire sauce, and a dash of hot sauce. Soo good with grilled cheeses!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
I firmly believe there’s a reason for everything. Some day you’ll know why your plans didn’t pan out. On the other hand, I can’t wait to try this soup. I haven’t made anything like this, and am pretty certain it would go over well with my family. How wonderful to have your aunt to talk recipes with!
Kristen says
What a gorgeous soup. Sorry your plans are not what they were going to be, but hopefully there will be a great reason in the future for you staying put!
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says
I feel like every week I make up a meal plan and then about 2 or 3 days into my plan, I either lose steam or something comes up and I always end up with a fridge full of ingredients that I intended to use but never did. I actually have some tomatoes that are waiting to be used, so I’ll have to make some soup! Thanks for the inspiration.
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} says
I am book marking this page because there are so many days when I need a quick pantry meal. Thank you!
Food Frenzy says
You make it sounds so easy! Great stuff.
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Tracy says
Haha, I can’t think of anything I do that ever goes according to plan. What a great, healthy pantry meal. This is definitely going on my menu!
Shaina says
Most things here don’t go according to plan. Case in point, I have two posts from last week that went unposted. They’ll have to wait a few days. 😉
The soup looks delicious, and sometimes pantry meals turn out to be the best kind.
MikeVFMK says
Plans being changed or canceled is par for the course, but life-changing plans being canceled is another thing altogether.
Nothing will make up for that but at least you can take comfort in your family and a meal like this. It looks too good for words, so I’ll stop before I begin.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Well then, this is my kind of soup since I don’t remember the last time anything went according to plan!
Ann says
I love pantry meals. It’s great to pull something out of thin air.
Smita says
Looks so yummy. Love to try this.
Cherine says
This looks really good!!
Cookbook Queen says
I am always in awe at the gorgousness of your photos…it makes me want to eat everything you make!!
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says
Hah! We were only going to be in NJ for a year or two, and then we’d move to Texas. We’re still here 5 years later, and no plans to move anytime soon. I’ve never have tomato florentine, but it looks beautiful and tasty.
Liz @ Blog is the New Black says
This looks great and it does sound simple. You’re right- I have most of these things in my pantry! Score!