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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!

Two bowls of tomato florentine soup, with a bottle of dressing and a green side salad in the background.

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.

Eric 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.

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
  • All-purpose flour
  • Bay leaves
  • Vegetable broth
  • Mini penne pasta
  • Fresh spinach
  • Salt and pepper
  • Balsamic vinegar

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

A bowl of tomato florentine soup, with a bottle of dressing and a green side salad in the background.

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.

  1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the onions and saute for until soft.
  3. Add the brown sugar, tomato paste, and the drained diced tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes begin to dry.
  4. Add the garlic to the dutch oven, stir, and cook for about 1 minute.
  5. Stir in the flour and continue to cook for another minute.
  6. Stir in the reserved tomato juice and bay leaves.
  7. Add 1 cup of broth at a time, whisking after each addition, until desired consistency is reached.
  8. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.
  9. Stir in the cooked pasta, spinach, and balsamic vinegar.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

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:

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 Readers Are Saying

I made it, it was sooo good. Thanks.” — Alex C.

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!” — Annie

Made this for supper….VERY VERY GOOD!!! Serving it with some very garlicky bread and salad.” — Debbie

Made this last night and we all loved it! Thank you.” — Tina

“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!” — Amber

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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easy homemade tomato florentine soup

Hearty Tomato Florentine Soup

Yield: 4-6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

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

  1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the onions and saute for 3 minutes. Add the brown sugar, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes (reserve juices for a later use).
  3. Cook until the tomatoes begin to dry, about 13 minutes.
  4. 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.
  5. Stir in the reserved tomato juice and bay leaves.
  6. Add 1 cup of broth at a time, whisking after each addition, until desired consistency is reached.
  7. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.
  8. Remove the bay leaves.
  9. Stir in the pasta, spinach, and balsamic vinegar.
  10. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  11. 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 1
Amount 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.

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love it if you let me know what you think! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram at @goodlifeeats with the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see what you’re cooking up in YOUR kitchen!

Melissa French, The More With Less Mom

Wednesday 3rd of June 2015

I have included this in my June Real Food Meal Plan post. Thanks for sharing!

Savita @ ChefDeHome

Tuesday 10th of March 2015

This soup looks so delicious and comforting! loved the pictures!

alex cervantes

Wednesday 13th of March 2013

I made it, it was sooo good. Thanks.

Annie

Thursday 8th of September 2011

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!

Debbie

Friday 1st of April 2011

Made this for supper....VERY VERY GOOD!!! Serving it with some very garlicky bread and salad.

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