Roast Tomato Soup with Thyme

Caught a new (to Canada but originally aired on BBC 2) cooking show the other day on the Food Network by Sophie Dahl - granddaughter to famed Roald Dahl and thought this recipe looked amazing. Tomato soup is one of my favourite comfort foods so had to give this one a try. I also love that you do the cooking in the oven, leaving the stove top free for other culinary pursuits.

Ingredients and Preparation: (serves 4)

• 2kg/4½lbs large ripe plum tomatoes, halved
• 1 garlic bulb, cut in half horizontally
• 2 large red onions, peeled, quartered
• few sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 250ml/9fl oz vegetable stock (optional)
• 100ml/3½fl oz single cream (optional)
• few drops Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• few drops balsamic vinegar (optional)
  
  

Place the tomatoes, garlic, onions and thyme into a large roasting tin and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add sugar (helps to caramelize the veg). Drizzle with the oil, and roast in the oven for 40-50 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.

Mash the garlic with the back of a fork, and discard the skin. Remove the thyme twigs! Tip the roasted tomatoes and onions into a food processor along with the mashed garlic, and pulse until smooth.

Before

After

  If the soup is too thick, pour into a large saucepan and loosen the mixture with either vegetable stock, or single cream. Add a little Worcestershire sauce or balsamic vinegar, to season, if you like.  I had to add stock and some cream to this soup as it was much too thick without...not the best tomato soup recipe (IMO) on the block but fresh and natural tasting.  I do have an ultimate favorite tomato and tarragon soup and will post about that soon!

Aother yummy recipe from this episode was the Twice Baked Potatoes with Goat's Cheese and Chives. I made them the other night and they were delicious.  Recipe here.