Start by washing the tomatoes well. Chop them into medium pieces. Peel and chop the onion finely. Mince the garlic cloves. Keep everything ready before cooking to make the process smooth and easy.

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and slightly golden. Then add garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant but not burnt.

Now add the chopped fresh tomatoes into the pot. Stir well to mix with onion and garlic. Cook for about 10 minutes until tomatoes soften and start breaking down into a thick mixture.

Add vegetable stock into the pot. Stir everything well. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes so the flavors blend nicely.

Turn off the heat and let the soup cool slightly. Use a blender or hand blender to blend until smooth. Make sure the texture is creamy and even.

Add salt, black pepper and a little sugar if needed. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning. Sugar helps balance the natural acidity of tomatoes.

Tear fresh basil leaves and add them to the soup. Stir gently. The basil gives a fresh and lovely aroma that makes the soup even more delicious.

Pour the soup into bowls and add a swirl of cream if you like. Serve warm with bread or toast. Enjoy the rich and comforting flavors.