Roasted Tomato Soup
Hey kids! Hope you all are having a souper Tuesday! It’s rainy and gloomy here in south Jersey and I thought, why not fire up some dinner (and a post) on this souper easy Roasted Tomato Soup? This is a dish that warms the heart and soul and it is souper-healthy (alright, I hear those pun-groans!)
I used two cans of whole peeled tomatoes and added about a cup of roasted tomatoes, which I really think lends a complexity and density to this soup. You can skip the roasted tomatoes and still have a fine soup, but the extra time is worth it. Of course, if you have some in the freezer then you’re in luck! Otherwise, roasting tomatoes takes a little over an hour and a half in the oven and can certainly be done ahead of time. Click here for a refresher on tomato roasting (hint: it’s wicked easy;))
roasted tomatoes from the post Vegan Tart with Roasted Tomatoes
I could certainly wax on about the health benefits of tomatoes, but I’ll spare you and let you know that I have included a few fun facts under “Sound Bites” in the recipe. Either way, nothing beats a warm bowl of summertime on a dreary winter’s day!
Making it Creamy!
Kids, this is a vegan soup, but I dare say it is creamy…WITHOUT cream! By simply blending in two de-crusted slices of bread (I have used whole wheat and potato in the past, but I really think any vegan bread you have in the cupboard will work) you achieve a wonderful a creaminess and heartiness.
Now, my sister Kitty makes a mean bowl of tomato soup. She spices her inspired soup with with cloves and I have added them to my roasted tomato soup, too. Cloves add a warm, sweet flavor and a fabulous aroma. Bet ya didn’t know they are high in manganese. What is manganese? Well among other things, it is a nutrient that has been shown to help decrease the symptoms of PMS! Yuppers, food IS medicine…
cloves au natural (Image courtesy encyclopedia britannica)
Soup It Up Already
Ok, so I said this was easy and here are the basics. Sauté an onion in olive oil and then add the minced garlic after about 10 minutes. (Fun fact: the nutritional value of garlic is maximized if you wait 10 minutes to add garlic to a recipe after mincing. Garlic forms allicin during this time. Allicin is known for its anti-cancer and immune supporting properties among other cool things. Plus, adding garlic 5-10 minutes after mincing decreases the chances it will burn.)
sprinkling in the allicin-rich garlic
Throw in the tomatoes and spices and mix with the onions and garlic.
Stir and simmer for 15-20 min, toss in the bread and blend.
If you don’t have a stick blender, I HIGHLY recommend getting one. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to clean and indispensable for soups, sauces, etc.
In less than half an hour, the roasted tomato soup is on. I grilled up some sammies with Daiya provolone (for a little dippity do) and dinner is served!
souper yummy Roasted Tomato Soup
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced can decrease to one if using roasted tomatoes with garlic
- 1 cup roasted tomatoes* can skip, also see Sound Bites for fun facts
- 2 28 ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- pinch red pepper flakes
- 2 slices bread white, potato, whole wheat with crusts removed
- sea salt and pepper to taste
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Prepare roasted tomatoes per Vegan Tomato Tart and reserve one cup.
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Heat olive oil over medium-low heat in large pot.
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Sauté onions for about 10 minutes until translucent.
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While onions are sautéing, mince garlic.
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Add garlic to pot after 10 minutes and suaté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
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Add tomatoes, cloves and red pepper, stir and simmer for 15 min.
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Tear bread and add to pot.
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Using stick blender (or remove to standing blender) blend until smooth.
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Salt and pepper to taste.
Tomatoes...we all know they are healthy but here are a few things you might not know. Unlike some foods that retain more nutrients when raw, cooking tomatoes actually increases their nutrients, specifically lycopene! Why lycopene? You may have heard the link between lycopene and prevention of some cancers, and though that may be true, newer studies suggest otherwise. Interestingly though, lycopene intake DOES increase bone strength-pretty cool! Tomatoes are also great for the ol' ticker, lowering cholesterol and preventing clots.I "heart"ily approve!
