ROASTED TOMATO GARLIC SOUP

Nothing like a warm hearty Roasted tomato garlic soup for a quick dinner when you have some bread! Caramelised onion is my star ingredient here. It adds the right amount of sweetness to balance the tanginess of tomatoes and spice. The addition of dried and fresh herbs makes it so delicious!

I use only Italian Roma tomatoes here as it's so flavourful. It's meaty flesh makes it ideal for soups

SERVES:4

INGREDIENTS:

750 gms Roma tomatoes

2 medium size yellow onions sliced

10 garlic cloves skin on

1 tbsp olive oil

25 gms fresh Basil leaves

3-4 fresh thyme sprigs

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp sugar

200 -250 ml Veg stock

1/4 - 1/2 tsp Aleppo chilli flakes or any other

Salt as per taste

1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated for garnish (Omit if you are vegan)

METHOD:

Pre-heat the oven to 200 C

Line a baking tray with baking paper. Slice the tomatoes into half. Arrange on the baking paper with skin side down. Place the garlic cloves on the tray too between tomatoes. Spray some olive oil on top of tomatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 30-40 mins till the top is charred a bit with black spots and wrinkled. When done, set aside to cool.

While the tomatoes are roasting, heat a skillet on medium heat with olive oil. Add sliced onions and sauté for 10-15 mins till the onions are caramelised and brown in color. Set aside to cool

Once cooled, blend the tomatoes in a high speed blender along with garlic (remove the skin of garlic) to make a puree

Add caramelised onions to it and blend again

Add basil leaves and blend for 3-4 secs only on low speed. Don’t let it blend too well into the puree. It should just break to small bits

Transfer the blended tomato puree/soup into a deep skillet. Add dried oregano, basil, chilli flakes, thyme sprigs, sugar, vegetable stock and salt. Bring it to a boil and let it boil for 2-3 mins

Do a taste test to adjust salt and spice

Serve into individual soup bowls, garnish with parmesan cheese and enjoy with a slice of sourdough bread.