One of the things I look forward to all summer is the start of Fall and all of the rich and warming soups that it brings around our house. I particularly love a nice tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. The combination of the tart tomatoes and rich creamy cheddar cheese are one of the ways I define comfort foods feel.
I decided to take things up a notch by melting the cheese right into the soup by giving it a nice creamy texture and then adding in a sharp cheddar, and I have to say I am extremely pleased with the result. My daughter even asked if we could do it this way every time we have tomato soup, and since it didn't take much longer than heating up a can of Campbell's I think she has a point.
I increased the richness by using beef broth as a base with the crushed tomatoes, and added flavor and texture by using greek yogurt to provide the creamy texture instead of heavy or sour cream. Finishing it off with a wonderful extra-sharp cheddar from the folks at Tillamook Cheese Factory here in Oregon made it the perfect soup in my mind. Give this one a try, you'll be happy you did.
Tomato, Basil & Cheddar Soup
Recipe
- Prep: 30 min Cook: 15 min
- Servings: 6-8
- Difficulty: Easy
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cans (28 oz. each) diced tomatoes
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup basil, chopped, loosely packed
- 2 tsp. oregano
- 1 tsp. sugar or sugar substitute
- salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion to the oil and allow to cook until tender.
Add in chopped garlic and cook for about two minutes more.
Pour in both cans of chopped tomatoes along with their juices and the vegetable stock.
Stir in the basil, oregano, sugar, and salt and pepper.
Cover and allow to simmer ten minutes.
Add in the Greek yogurt and cheddar cheese and stir until well blended.
For the smoothest texture, run the soup through a food processor or immersion blender.
Source: Fat Boy Heaven
NOTES
Can easily be embellished with additional herbs, meats, or thickened with tomato paste.