Creamy Basil Tomato Soup

Recipe

The best time to make this soup is the end of the summer when tomatoes are ripe, sweet, and juicy, and fresh basil is aromatic and flavorful. The recipe looks simple, but the end result is dazing. This creamy soup served with croutons, garlic bread, or just a sprinkle of olive oil and parmesan cheese is a fabulous choice for dinner parties and family celebrations. The key ingredients are the tomatoes. The best ones are local, organic, from the farmers market, Roma, or any similar low-seed, fleshy varieties.

Ingredients:

·      1 TB ghee (or olive oil)

·      3 TB EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

·      1 small onion, chopped

·      1 garlic clove, crushed

·      ½ tsp. salt (or to taste)

·      ½ tsp. pepper (or to taste)

·      Pinch of thyme

·      3 pounds of Roma tomatoes (removing the excess seeds)

·      3 TB tomato paste

·      2 cups filtered water

·      3 TB white balsamic vinegar

·      2 TB light brown sugar

·      ½ cup fresh basil (chopped)

·      Parmesan cheese (optional)

·      Croutons or garlic bread (optional)

Method:

Heat ghee (or olive oil) in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and crushed garlic, stir and cook for about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, salt, and pepper and cook without cover for 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir until well combined and cook for 3 minutes. Add water, vinegar, and brown sugar. Stir it all and cook for 5 minutes without the cover, so the soup thickens a bit. Cover the pot and simmer the soup on low heat for another 15 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft.

Add chopped basil and EVOO. Wait for the soup to cool off slightly and blend it with a hand blender (or a regular blender) until smooth and creamy.

Serve the soup topped with an additional sprinkle of olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, croutons, or garlic bread.

Health facts:

·      Low glycemic

·      Good source of omega-3 and fatty acids

·      Rich in lycopene and polyphenols

·      Good source of vitamin C, K, potassium, magnesium, and folate

·      GF, vegan, and dairy free