I Tried Nordstrom’s Famous Tomato Basil Soup, and Now I Get the Obsession

I’ve never had the opportunity to enjoy a bowl of Nordstrom’s famous Tomato Basil Soup, but the internet had me convinced it was something I needed to try. Since getting to the famous department store isn’t always an option, I decided to do the next best thing—make the soup at home. Luckily, I found a good teacher, Nordstrom’s Chef Keith (and his sous chef son) who shared exactly how to make the soup in a Nordstrom Instagram post. After making it, I can confidently say the soup is worthy of the hype. 

If you’re unfamiliar with the pure magic of Nordstrom’s Tomato Basil Soup, just type it into your favorite browser and press enter. Your search will reveal countless editorial stories and blog posts, all sharing their professed love of this nostalgic soup.

How to Make Nordstrom’s Tomato Basil Soup

You’ll first start by sautéing carrots and onions in a large pot for about five minutes. Once they’re softened, add some salt, dried basil, and black pepper and cook for about one minute, or until the basil is fragrant.

Next, add two large 28-ounce cans of whole tomatoes with their juices and one quart of vegetable stock. After simmering for 20 to 25 minutes, add some heavy whipping cream and fresh basil and blend until the soup is smooth.

My Honest Review

After I ladled the soup into a bowl and garnished it with a bit of fresh basil, I plunged my spoon into the soup and took my first slurp. It was indeed delicious. It was perfectly tomato-y and velvety smooth. It had the right balance of sweet and salty and just enough acid to keep things interesting.

The fresh basil added a beautiful floral touch that you just don’t get from the premade versions at the store. I enjoyed mine with a simple slice of baguette, which I used to sop up every last bit of soup in my bowl. 

Should you make this soup? Absolutely! For the recipe, I recommend watching the full Instagram reel. It contains the exact list of ingredients (plus a bonus recipe for delicious garlic crostini), a full tutorial on how to make the soup, and helpful tips from Chef Keith.

The recipe makes a large batch of soup, which is great for feeding a large family. If you don’t have multiple mouths to feed, consider freezing to enjoy another day.

Bottom line: Believe the hype!