Cheap low-carb, reduced-sodium, heart-healthy homemade tomato soup recipe

Add the vegetable broth to the tomato sauce and melted Smart Balance. You can use any brand of reduced-sodium or no salt vegetable broth, Swanson is just one of many brands available. You can even make your own homemade no salt vegetable broth to use in your homemade tomato soup.Add 1 can (15 ounces) no salt or reduced-sodium tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes to the melted Smart Balance in the saucepan. Red Pack makes both no salt and reduced-sodium versions of both tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes. There are other brands on the market, but Red Pack is of a high quality and less expensive than other brands.In a sauce pan over medium-low heat, melt the Smart Balance buttery spread. In order to reduce the fat and calories use Smart Balance Heart Right Light buttery spread to make your homemade tomato soup. Smart Balance Heart Right Light buttery spread tastes and looks just like butter without all the fat and cholesterol. Using Smart Balance Heart Right Light buttery spread will help your homemade tomato soup be heart-healthy and reduced fat.View the list »
Delicious, frugal, heart-healthy, reduced-sodium, reduced-fat low-carb homemade tomato soup

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It is important to eat healthy to have a healthy heart, and making homemade soups is cheaper than buying reduced-fat or fat-free, low-carb, reduced-sodium soups.

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Tomato soup reminds us of our childhood when mom would make a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup on a chilly autumn or winter afternoon or evening.

Canned versions of tomato soup are usually high in sodium and often carbohydrates. The lower-sodium versions are often very expensive, and may not be low-carb. Making a homemade version of tomato soup ensures that you know exactly what goes into your tomato soup.

You do not need a lot of ingredients to make delicious, homemade, cheap low-carb and reduced-sodium tomato soup. It will not take you much time to make homemade low-carb, reduced-sodium tomato soup that the entire family will love. It may take a little longer than opening a can and adding milk, but you will be glad you made homemade tomato soup.

If desired, you can add ½ to 1 cup of cooked rice, but keep in mind that this increases the carbohydrate value in the tomato soup. A serving of tomato soup equals one cup, and this recipe yields approximately six servings.

You can use reduced-sodium tomato sauce if you want a smooth tomato soup, or use reduced-sodium crushed tomatoes for more chunky tomato soup. You can also make your own cheap, no sodium vegetable broth instead of buying canned vegetable broth.

Homemade reduced-sodium, low-carb, reduced-fat tomato soup recipe

Ingredients for heart healthy homemade tomato soup:

  • 1 can (15-ounces) reduced-sodium tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup sodium-free or reduced-sodium vegetable broth
  • 3 cups fat-free milk
  • 1 Tablespoon half-n-half
  • 2 Tablespoons Smart Balance or Olivio Light buttery spread or similar heart healthy buttery spread
  • ½ to 1 Tablespoon granulated white sugar
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

How to make homemade heart healthy soup:

In a medium saucepan on medium heat, melt the Smart Balance or Olivio Light

  • Add vegetable broth, canned reduced-sodium tomatoes, salt, sugar and pepper to the saucepan. Stir to incorporate.
  • Over medium-low to medium heat, bring mixture to a slow bubble, but do not allow mixture to reach a boil.
  • Add the fat-free milk and half-n-half to the tomato mixture in the saucepan. Over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, bring to a slow bubble for approximately 5 minutes. Do not allow soup to reach a boil.
  • Remove from heat and cover the saucepan; allow soup to sit for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
  • 1 cup equals one serving; recipe yields approximately six to eight servings

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For more frugal recipes, frugal healthier-for-you recipes and tips to save money follow Rachael Monaco, Buffalo Frugal Living Examiner. For more heart-healthy, low-carb, low-fat, reduced-sodium recipes and food news follow Rachael Monaco, Buffalo Cooking Examiner.

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  • In a sauce pan over medium-low heat, melt the Smart Balance buttery spread. In order to reduce the fat and calories use Smart Balance Heart Right Light buttery spread to make your homemade tomato soup. Smart Balance Heart Right Light buttery spread tastes and looks just like butter without all the fat and cholesterol. Using Smart Balance Heart Right Light buttery spread will help your homemade tomato soup be heart-healthy and reduced fat.
  • Add 1 can (15 ounces) no salt or reduced-sodium tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes to the melted Smart Balance in the saucepan. Red Pack makes both no salt and reduced-sodium versions of both tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes. There are other brands on the market, but Red Pack is of a high quality and less expensive than other brands.
  • Add the vegetable broth to the tomato sauce and melted Smart Balance. You can use any brand of reduced-sodium or no salt vegetable broth, Swanson is just one of many brands available. You can even make your own homemade no salt vegetable broth to use in your homemade tomato soup.
  • Add just a bit of salt to the vegetable broth and tomato mixture. If at all possible add only 1/4 teaspoon, but you can use up to 1/2 teaspoon of salt and still keep the tomato soup well within reduced-sodium requirements in your homemade tomato soup. Your soup should remain on medium-low to medium heat at a slow bubble, stirring occasionally to ensure it does not burn.
  • Add as little sugar as possible to the vegetable broth and tomato mixture. If at all possible add only 1/2 Tablepoon, but you can use up to 1 Tablespoon of sugar and still keep the tomato soup well within carbohydrate controlled requirements for diabetics. Your soup should remain on medium-low to medium heat at a slow bubble, stirring occasionally to ensure it does not burn.
  • You can add as much or as little ground black pepper as you like to the vegetable broth and tomato mixture. It tastes best without being overwhelming if you use 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper. If you prefer, you do not need to use ground black pepper at all in your homemade tomato soup. Your soup should remain on medium-low to medium heat at a slow bubble, stirring occasionally to ensure it does not burn.
  • Add two cups of fat-free milk to the vegetable broth and tomato mixture. Using fat-free milk will ensure that the fat content of your homemade tomato soup remains well within heart healthy guidelines. Any brand of fat-free milk that you choose will work in this tomato soup recipe. Your soup should remain on medium-low to medium heat at a slow bubble, stirring occasionally to ensure it does not burn.
  • Keep your tomato soup on a low to medium-low heat and stir often to keep from burning. Keep the tomato soup at a very slow bubble for approximately 5 minutes after adding the milk or it may curdle. Remove the tomato soup from the heat, cover and let stand for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.One cup of tomato soup equals one serving. This tomato soup recipe makes approximately six servings.If desired, you may add cooked white rice to this recipe, but keep in mind that will increase the carbohydrate content of the tomato soup.
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, Buffalo Frugal Living Examiner

Rachael Monaco is a freelance writer who has published hundreds of tried and true recipes over the past 15 years. Rachael also writes on a variety of other topics including healthy living, pop culture, celebrity news and gossip, soap operas, reality television, politics and headline news. Contact...

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