Chunky Tomato Cream Soup

By connieo

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped Vidalia onion
• 8 to 10 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 serrano pepper, seeded and chopped
• Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp tomato paste
• 8 Roma tomatoes, cut into big chunks
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

Details

Servings 4
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 60mins

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a stockpot over medium heat, combine olive oil, onion, thyme, paprika, serrano pepper, a pinch of salt & a few grinds of black pepper.
2. Stir with a wooden spoon & cook until onion is tender but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
3. Add garlic & tomato paste, stirring to coat everything in pot. Cook, stirring, over medium heat until paste turns a deep red, 8 to 10 more minutes.
4. Add tomato chunks & bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring to ensure that a bit of moisture evaporates but tomatoes don't burn.
5. Cook this way until tomatoes are tender & skins are peeling off, about 5 minutes.
6. Add chicken stock & bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer & cook for just 10 more minutes. Remove pot from heat and, using tongs, remove thyme.
7. Using an immersion blender, blitz soup in pot, leaving a few chunks of tomato for texture. Return to low heat & slowly stir in cream. Serve warm.

If you don't have an immersion blender, use a regular one. Work in batches and make sure the pitcher is never filled more than a third of the way. Before you start, remove a few chunks of tomato with a slotted spoon to add back later for texture.