HEARTY TOMATO SOUP AND CHEESE-GARLIC TOASTS (Serves 4)

Creamy tomato soup with cheese-garlic toasts

Are there some days when you feel you don't want to cook a full meal and instead cook something quick and light? Today is one of those days for me. Also today being a weekend, I want to make something quick so I can spend time with my family and something hearty as winter has set in. So what is a better way to treat your family on a cold winter day with a hot bowl of creamy tomato soup and cheese-garlic toasts. Now it's up to you whether you want to make it a lunch or a brunch. This recipe takes fewer ingredients and gives a restaurant-style taste.

INGREDIENTS :-
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1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 cans (14 oz each) vegetable broth
1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Salt to season
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp italian herb mix


PROCESS :-
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1.  Heat a heavy bottom deep pan to medium-high heat. Add crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth  in  it. Add black pepper, salt and sugar and mix properly.

2.  Let it start to bubble, now lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 15-20 mins. Once it starts to thicken, add heavy cream and italian herb mix. Mix gently and puree the soup using an immersion blender. Let it simmer for couple more mins. if necessary. Once the consistency of soup is semi thick, turn the heat off.

3.  Ladle the soup in fancy bowls and enjoy it with cheese garlic toasts (recipe follows)

Creamy tomato soup with hints of italian herbs along with garlic croutons

 

 

 

NOTE :-
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1.  If you do not have an immersion blender, let the soup cool and puree it using the mixer/blender otherwise use tomato puree instead of crushed tomatoes. Keep in mind that tomato puree will not give chunky texture to your soup as it is pureed fine.

2.  We added sugar to the soup which sounds kind of weird but it helps in bringing out the flavor of tomatoes and lessening its tartness.



CHEESE GARLIC TOASTS


INGREDIENTS :-
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White/Wheat bread slices
2-3 garlic cloves
olive oil
Sharp cheddar/ Italian blend cheese


PROCESS  :-
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1.  Pre-heat oven to 300 F.

2.  Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet. Drizzle both sides with olive oil. Bake for 5-8  mins till they turn golden turning once.

3.  Cut the top portion of garlic clove in a way that it stands. Now rub it over the hot toast on both sides for a nice garlic flavor.

Rub garlic on the warm toasts

4.  Layer the toasts with cheese of your choice.

Garlic toasts layered with cheddar and italian cheeses

5.  Start the broiler and broil these toasts till cheese is melted and starts bubbling. This step takes under a minute so keep a close eye on it or else it will burn.

Great way to enjoy your winter day!!!

Enjoy these mouth watering cheesy-garlicky toasts with thick creamy tomato soup. This sure is a nice, hearty way to start your cold winter day!