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This 35-minute potato leek tomato soup is an easy to make, healthy, and ultra comforting soup that uses everyday ingredients. The unique flavor is hard to resist!
You might also enjoy my Easy Tomato Soup or Simple Potato Leek Soup.
Why you’ll love it
The flavor of this soup is truly hard to describe. It tastes neither like potato leek soup nor tomato soup but takes elements from both to make an irresistible flavor all its own! It’s a fantastic year-round soup and is great for eating throughout the week as meal prep.
This soup was a highlight of my childhood. The funny thing is that I never actually got the recipe from my mom. I watched her make it many times, but I am pretty sure I make mine differently. I remember her version being much more labor intensive. But easier is always better, am I right?
What you’ll need
- Leeks – size isn’t super important in this recipe, but if you’re staring at leeks at the store, try to go for ones that are medium-sized vs. tiny or super large
- Butter and olive oil – for sautéing
- Garlic – for a pop of aromatic flavor
- Tomatoes – I use a can of Italian stewed tomatoes
- Chicken broth – for the savory base of the soup
- Potatoes – I suggest using Yukon Golds. You can use Russets, but the soup may end up a bit thicker and need some thinning out with more broth if you go that route. If I happen to have Russets in my pantry, I will throw a large one in and that works fine without having to weigh it out.
- Heavy cream – it adds a touch of luxuriousness to the broth. Don’t skip it!
Pro tips for leeks
- Chop the dark green part of the leeks off and discard it. Keep the light green and white portions and then slice them up from there into circles/rings.
- Dirt tends to hide, so I am always extra careful about washing the leeks. Once you’ve done the step above, you can then add them to a sieve/colander and rinse them. Use your hands to dislodge any stubborn dirt, or you can add them to a bowl of cool water then drain it once they’ve soaked for a bit.
- I published a How to Prepare Leeks guide if you’re interested in learning more.
How to make potato leek tomato soup
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Clean and prep the leeks. In a soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté the leeks, stirring occasionally. Stir in the garlic. Add the tomatoes, broth, and tomatoes to the pot. Bring a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are soft.
Using an immersion blender or regular blender, purée the soup. Once smooth, stir in the heavy cream. Season generously with salt & pepper, and enjoy.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- A metal colander is the easiest way to clean the leeks in your sink.
- This is the Dutch oven I used in this recipe and for many other soups.
- Use an immersion blender to purée this soup right in the pot.
- A sturdy ladle makes it simple to dish up this soup without spilling.
Substitutions and variations
- You can easily make this vegetarian if you replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- I used Italian seasoned stewed tomatoes. If you’re using plain ones, you may want to add some Italian seasoning to the soup (a few dashes or 1/4 teaspoon or so). If you can’t find stewed tomatoes, try diced tomatoes with juices.
- The consistency of this soup is medium-thick, but if you do want it very thick, try throwing in another potato.
What to serve with this leek soup
- I enjoy serving it with Homemade Croutons on top. You could also make Garlic Bread or serve it with breadsticks or a slice of fresh baguette.
- For a soup and salad combo, try spring mix with my Creamy Balsamic Dressing, or make my popular 10-Minute Caesar Dressing if you’re in a Caesar salad kind of mood.
- Craving a sandwich with it? Try my Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for a twist.
Leftovers and storage
- Store any leftovers of this tomato leek soup in the fridge in a covered container for 3-4 days.
- When reheating, you can simply add a little more broth to thin out the leftovers if needed.
- You can freeze this one for up to 3 months. Try individual portions for convenience.
I hope you’ll enjoy this potato leek tomato soup recipe! If you made it, please leave a star rating and review below. You can also find me on Instagram.
Potato Leek Tomato Soup
Ingredients
- 3 leeks see note
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can Italian seasoned stewed tomatoes with juices
- 3 cups chicken broth or veg broth
- 1 pound Yukon Gold (yellow) potatoes peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Discard the top dark green portion of the leeks, retaining the bulbs. Cut the bulbs into rings. Add leeks to a colander and rinse thoroughly (dirt tends to hide).
- Melt the butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add leeks to the pot and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir the garlic in and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the stewed tomatoes, chicken broth, and potatoes to the pot. Bring to a boil and then cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar, reducing heat to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are soft, approx. 15-20 minutes depending on their size.
- Test if the potatoes are cooked. If they are, use an immersion blender (or a regular blender) to puree the soup. You may want to let the soup cool for a bit if you're clumsy like me and afraid of accidentally burning yourself. Once the soup is smooth, add the cream. Season with salt & pepper as needed (I am fairly generous). Serve immediately.
Notes
- I don’t worry too much about the size of the leeks. If they’re not equal size, that’s fine. Try to aim for ones that are more medium-sized vs. ones that look very large or very small.
- If you can’t find Italian seasoned stewed tomatoes, add a few dashes of Italian seasoning to the soup. If you can’t find stewed tomatoes, try diced ones.
- If you want a very thick soup, add another potato. If the soup gets too thick (e.g. reheating leftovers), add a splash more broth.
- This soup can also be found on page 20 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials cookbook.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published on March 16, 2016. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
I made this soup today and while it was good if I make it again I will use half as much tomato. I wanted potato soup and it tastes like tomato. Still good but not what I wanted.
Hi Susan! In the blog post I try to explain that it isn’t your standard potato soup. It definitely has its own unique flavor and is something that my mom used to make us when we were little. I have quite a few potato soups on the site if you search for “potato soup”.
My Favourite Soup!!
I never saw this recipe on line before today. I have been making this soup for years–handed down from my mother. All of my kids loved it growing up. It’s a nice stick to your ribs kind of soup and very filling. Perfect with a buttered bagel on a cold winter day. I love dipping the bagel in the soup. In recent years I started to use yogurt instead of cream–gives it a nice tang. I do use russet potatoes and it does get thick but I since I also use concentrated chicken broth to thin it out, it still has amazing flavour. ( I often make my own chicken broth in the instant pot and freeze it in small batches but in a pinch I use Better than Bouillon roast chicken to make a concentrated broth )
I love that!! Sounds like we may have had similar childhoods haha!
This soup was fabulous and so easy to make. The leeks are a nice flavour. They add a freshness that regular onions don’t. I cooked this in my Instant Pot for 3 minutes on regular pressure, then quick release. I pureed it with the immersion blender. This is true comfort food – delicious and nutritious. Perfect for our chilly winter nights in Calgary🏔
Thank you, Jessica! Stay warm!