Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

One day when I was feeling like a bowl of what Mom used to make, Campbell tomato soup with rice and saltine crackers on the side, I thought she was a genius. I had not had that in years, wonder why, and this is a far cry from condensed soup and white rice but it still gave me that feeling.

Thank you Ina Garten, I saw you make this on your show and it quickly became a staple in our house.

This is a great starter or complete meal on a cold winter day, I have even had a cold bowl in the height of the summer heat. If plum tomatoes are 99 cents a pound it’s a no brainer soup will soon be on the stove. We tried to grow our own last summer but the ground hogs quickly discovered them along with the rest of the garden. I used to put it in canning jars for my parents but as age took over they started opening them with can openers so I switched to screw top Tupperware, even then it was a challenge.

Hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Prep Time: 15 to 30 minutes if you like to talk and goof off when you prep.

Cook Time: 1 hr 35 minutes to 2 hours

Serves: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups chopped yellow onions – about 2 onions
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• A good pinch of crushed red pepper flakes about 1/4 teaspoon
• 1 (28-ounce) canned whole plum tomatoes, with their juice
• 4 cups fresh basil leaves packed (save small amount for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 quart chicken or vegetable stock

Optional

• Add a red pepper sliced in half and seeded and white vein removed or two to the tomatoes while roasting
• 3-4 cups fresh Cilantro or mix of both basil and cilantro.
• Fresh or frozen corn (use if using cilantro the combo is great)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss together the tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, and pepper I also add a small amount of dried basil or even crushed dried rosemary. Spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet, drizzle any left oil mixture and roast for 45-55 minutes. I like them to get caramelized.

In an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, sauté the onions with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown add and garlic for about 30 seconds . Add the canned tomatoes, basil/cilantro, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Taste for seasonings. Return to pot add corn at this time and simmer for about 10-15 minutes until corn is cooked. Chiffonade small amount of the basil and sprinkle over soup when served. Serve hot or cold.

Chiffonade :Arrange the leaves in a stack, roll them up cigar-style, and slice the roll as thinly as you can. The word for this technique (should you care to brush up on your French while you slice) is chiffonade (shihf-uh-NAHD).

I have a friend who put into blender instead of food mill but I think it got too creamy or smooth.