Tomato soup is not hard to make. I am not talking about opening a can of that orange glop, so stop that. You can make tomato soup with simple pantry ingredients and it will be healthy (assuming you use sodium moderated products) and tasty.
You need: Some olive oil (once around the pot), a small pat of butter (1 tsp?) a small onion (about 1/4 cup chopped) a clove of garlic (as big as you dare!), some dried basil (a small mound in your hand), a big glop of tomato paste (about 3 tbs), a can of diced tomatoes, chicken broth (use the empty tomato can as your measure), and 1 tsp of sugar (optional). You also need a regular blender or a stick blender.
Chop the onion and garlic and let them sweat in the olive oil and butter over very low heat until they are tender. This could take 5-10 minutes. We aren’t looking for caramelization here, just very soft onion. Add the basil and stir just until you can smell it. Add the tomato paste, canned tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring it all to a boil. Once you have a good boil, drop it to a simmer and let it cook 10 minutes or even longer (as long as the heat is really low it will be fine).
If you have a stick blender, remove the pan from the heat, take off any clothing that you do not want tomato spattered (it’s gonna happen no matter how careful you are), set the speed to low, and whiz around the pot until the soup is smooth. If you are using a regular blender, pour the soup into the blender and remove the little cap in the middle of the lid. Fold a kitchen towel and hold it over the lid – it’s a learned balance of letting air move but containing any eruptions. Turn the blender on low, whiz the soup until smooth, then pour it back into the pot. If you did not follow the directions for the regular blender, after you put the soup back in the pot, wash your walls and ceiling with warm, soapy water.
Taste the soup and add 1 tsp of sugar if you like. This is especially appreciated by those who are accustomed to the orange glop. If you like thicker soup, you can let it simmer longer. If you have leftover cooked vegetables in the ‘fridge (or fresh spinach) that you need to use, drop ‘em in and simmer until they’re warm.
On my meal plan today? Tomato soup and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. Perfect for a snowy day!
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