You say tomato, I say soup. It goes without saying that a steaming hot bowl of tomato soup is the ultimate comfort food. You know exactly what I mean–it feels warm and cozy just like that old pair of fur-lined slippers you refuse to throw out (c’mon, admit it). Tomato soup is quite good right out of the can. But it’s even better, when you make it yourself and pour your heart and soul–along with fresh tomatoes and herbs–into a bowl.
Heirloom tomatoes and sweet red peppers come together in the perfect bowl of tomato soup. (All photos credit: George Graham)
The stack of locally grown heirloom tomatoes I discovered at my local produce market spoke to me in a culinary love language which only I can decipher. They whispered sweetness. And the bin of ripe Vermilion-colored bell peppers shouted their willingness to join the culinary get-together from across the aisle–the perfect marriage.
Now, before you think I’m hearing vegetable voices, it is important to know how my mind works. Conventional wisdom says that most folks are either right brain (creative) or left brain (analytical) in their approach to life. Well, I am (and many others are) blessed with a third–let’s call it gastronomic–sensory brain function that interprets sight, sound, taste, and smell into tasty recipes. It is instantaneous and without conscious thought; I can’t help it. For most, a perfectly ripe heirloom tomato is just a vegetable (uh, fruit). But to me, it is the passionate expression of the artisan grower that painstakingly nurtured this hybrid to the peak of ripeness. He then carefully brought it to market so I would be inspired to roast, simmer, herb infuse, and purée it into the perfect soup. Yep, it’s just the way I’m wired.
So, what makes this tomato soup different? Very simply, it’s all locally grown. These heirloom tomatoes and sweet red peppers are farmed within 10 miles of my home. And while basil is the classic herb for tomato soup, I am partial to the fresh French thyme that grows in my backyard. I like the sweet, earthy flavor it brings to the pot. And the soft, subtle kiss of melted goat cheese from Wanda Barras’ Belle Ecorce Farms in rural St. Martin Parish gently mellows the bowl. It’s the perfect introduction to the grilled cheese croutons that are a must for any righteous tomato soup.
Cozy up to this Southern recipe for tomato soup, and I assure you it will speak your language, too.
Tomato soup – cozy comfort in a bowl.
- 8 large ripe tomatoes, preferably heirloom variety
- 4 red bell peppers
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 cup diced celery
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 8 slices white sandwich bread
- 4 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 slices American cheese
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 tablespoons soft goat cheese
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme, for garnish
- Cut a small X in the top stem portion of each tomato. In a large pot of boiling water, add the tomatoes and parboil for 1 minute. Remove and let cool. With a small sharp knife, peel back the skin at the X and discard. Repeat with all tomatoes. Cut each tomato in half.
- Over the open flame of your gas stovetop or on an outdoor grill, place the bell peppers. With a long pair of tongs, rotate the peppers until the skin is blackened. Place each pepper into a paper sack or covered bowl and seal. Once the steam dissipates, remove the pepper; peel away and discard the skin. Cut each pepper in half lengthwise and remove any seeds or membrane.
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. On a large rimmed baking sheet, add the tomatoes and the peppers. Roast for about 30 minutes until they begin to fall apart, but remove them before they blacken. Let cool.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 stick of the butter and add the onions and celery. Cook until translucent and then add the garlic, tomato paste, thyme, and paprika. Lower the heat to low and continue to stir until all is combined and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the roasted tomatoes and peppers and cook for 5 minutes, constantly stirring.
- Add the chicken stock along with the milk and bring to a boil. Immediately lower the heat to a simmer and continue cooking for 30 minutes until all the vegetables are tender and the mixture has thickened some.
- With an immersion blender or a food processor, process the mixture until it takes on a thick bisque-like texture. Add the heavy cream and blend some more. Taste the soup and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Continue to simmer the soup until ready to serve. If it thickens too much, thin it out with a little more cream or stock.
- Meanwhile, make the grilled cheese croutons by trimming the crust off the sliced bread. Brush the top and bottom slice with the remaining 1 stick of softened butter and sprinkle lightly with Parmesan cheese. Layer a slice of American cheese and Swiss cheese between the slices and place in a hot skillet. Cook until browned and flip over and cook the other side until the cheese has melted. Remove and keep warm. Repeat until all sandwiches are grilled. Slice each sandwich into 4 small squares and insert a bamboo skewer.
- In a hot skillet add the goat cheese and melt until it attains a liquid consistency. Keep warm until serving.
- For serving, ladle the soup into bowls along with a grilled cheese crouton skewer. With a spoon, drizzle some of the melted goat cheese into the soup and garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme.
Tomato soup – a classic warm-up.
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Delicious. I omitted the goat cheese.
Ruth Aune-
Even without the goat cheese, this combination works. Glad it was a hit; thanks for the comment.
I’ve been growing tomatoes for over 40 years. This year, I planted a few acres of heirlooms near Youngsville. The varieties I chose, well, could have been better. I planted over 10,000 that I’d grown in my hothouse from seed. The season is over but I’m delighted to see this recipe. Next Spring, I plan to do it all over again but I’ll be armed with the best varieties I know. I shoulda done this in the first place. Oh well, live and learn.
Hey Donnie-
I never met a tomato I didn’t like! Granted, some are brighter in flavor than others, but they’re all good. A trick I learned years ago is to fire up the smoker when you get a batch of subpar tomatoes. It is amazing how the smoke perks them up with added flavor. Smoked tomato soup anyone? Thanks for the comment, and all the best to you and your hothouse.