This is by far the best tomato soup I have ever eaten. Next time I'll have to make more so we can have leftovers.
Classic Tomato Soup
Inspired by the sweet-salty pleasures of a BLT sandwich, this version of tomato soup starts with smoky bacon and gets better from there. It's comforting, savory, and goes brilliantly with grilled cheese.
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Credit: Anna Stockwell
INgredients
2 slices smoked bacon (about 1.5 oz.) cut into thin matchsticks½ tbsp. unsalted butter
1 small onion, thinly sliced (about 3 oz. or 1 cup)
1 small carrot, halved and thinly sliced (about 2.5 oz. or ¾ cup)
1 tbsp. tomato paste
2 tsp. flour
2 cups chicken stock
1 ½ cups canned diced tomatoes, well drained
2 sprigs thyme
1 fresh bay leaf
1 garlic clove, lightly crushed
2 tbs. heavy cream
Instructions
1. Render bacon over medium heat in a 3-quart saucepan until crisp, about three minutes. Remove bacon to paper-towel lined plate and set aside, reserving the rendered fat in the saucepan.2. Increase heat to medium-high and add the butter. Sauté the onion and carrot for 8-10 minutes or until very soft and beginning to caramelize, stirring occasionally. Add the tomato paste and continue cooking about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture, mix well and continue cooking for another minute. Gradually pour in the stock, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Add the diced tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, garlic and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer soup for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove soup from the heat. Add the heavy cream and puree with an immersion blender until smooth. Season to taste and serve garnished with the crisped bacon.
To make this soup vegetarian: Omit the bacon and increase the butter by 1/2 tablespoon.
Ratings & Reviews (6)
This soup was easy and delicious and just perfect for a blustery day. I used the bacon to make bacon-grilled cheese sandwiches on very thin white bread. It was a most felicitous lunch.
Just note that this serves 2. I made this for a dinner party and had to thin it out and serve it in teeny tiny bowls. Besides the portions, it is a fantastic recipe. I am however going to triple it next time.
I made a vegetarian version of this soup (no bacon and veggie stock) - but wish I ate bacon! However, it was still good, especially with a grilled cheese sandwich to dip into it.
so yummy--and so easy! I'll never buy canned tomato soup again!
Looks yummy, but one probably has to replace the chicken stock with vegetable stock or water as well, if it is supposed to be vegetarian.
Classic Tomato Soup
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