Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is a classic comforting and nutritious dish. Here is a basic recipe that we will then customize with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

• 1 kg ripe tomatoes
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 liter vegetable or chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A pinch of sugar (to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)
• Fresh basil (for an Italian touch)
• Grated Parmesan (to serve)

Preparation

1. Start by washing and chopping the tomatoes. You can peel them if you prefer a smoother soup, by making a small cross incision at the base and immersing them for a few seconds in boiling water before cooling them in ice water, which makes it easier to remove the skin.
2. Finely chop the onion and garlic and sauté them in a large pot with extra virgin olive oil until they are soft and translucent.
3. Add the tomatoes to the pot and cook for a few minutes. Then add the broth, salt, pepper, and the pinch of sugar.
4. Let the soup simmer for about 30 minutes.
5. If you prefer a smooth soup, you can blend it with an immersion blender or in a traditional blender until you reach the desired consistency.
6. Adjust salt and pepper if necessary and add fresh basil torn by hand to preserve the maximum aroma.
7. Serve the soup hot with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan on each portion.

Interesting Facts

Tomato soup is a versatile dish that varies greatly depending on the region of origin in Italy. In the Tuscan version, for example, you might find the addition of stale bread to thicken the soup, creating a version of the famous “pappa al pomodoro”.