Appetizers & Snacks

Tomato Basil Bisque


Quite a simple soup, but it's a world of flavor! This can be eaten as a stand alone lunch or dinner, as a side, or as an appetizer. Pairs wonderfully with a baguette or dinner roll if you are craving some extra carbs. And like most of my favorite recipes, it reheats well! Enjoy.



INGREDIENTS

  • Peeled tomatoes (2 - 28 oz cans)

  • Vegetable stock (1 cup)

  • Heavy cream (3/4 cup)

  • Yellow onion (1 large, diced)

  • Garlic (3 cloves, minced)

  • Fresh basil (2 tbsp, chopped)

  • Sugar (1 tbsp)

  • Olive oil (1 tbsp)

  • Italian seasoning (1/2 tsp)

  • Course black pepper (1/2 tsp)

  • Salt (1/2 tsp)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a large pot or dutch oven, combine olive oil, yellow onion, and garlic. Sauté on medium heat until onions are caramelized and moderately transparent - about 3-5 minutes.

  2. Add peeled tomatoes including juice, vegetable stock, sugar, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and salt. Bring heat down so soup remains at a simmer as pictured above. Cook for an additional 10 minutes stirring occasionally to allow soup to thicken.

  3. Add fresh basil and heavy cream. Stir for an additional minute. Then turn off heat.

  4. Use an immersion blender to break down all large pieces in the soup. The bisque should be a uniform texture throughout. You can also carefully transfer to a traditional blender if an immersion blender is unavailable.

  5. Spoon soup into serving bowls, and allow to cool slightly before serving. Soup can be garnished with fresh basil, chives, sour cream, cheese, and/or croutons. The bisque shown above was garnished with fresh basil and grated romano cheese. Yum!