Step 1

Heat the olive oil to medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until light brown and fragrant. Stir in both cans of tomatoes, vegetable broth, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and basil (if using). Bring to a simmer.

Step 2

Simmer 15 to 20 minutes until slightly thickened and the tomato flavor mellows. Then immersion blend the soup or carefully transfer to a blender and blend until smooth (this step makes it creamier; you can skip this step if you’re ok with the texture as is).

Step 3

Stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons salted butter. For a richer soup, you can also stir in a splash of heavy cream.