Smoked Tomato Bacon Soup

By sheilaolim

Yield: 6-8
Prep Time: 20 minutes + 2 hours
Cook Time: 30 mintues
Total Time: 50 minutes
Fresh garden tomato soup with savory bacon and a bite of smoked paprika.

Using a Vitamix or heavy blender makes pureeing very easy. Off season use 5-6 cans of diced or stewed tomatoes.

Ingredients

• 10 slices turkey bacon
• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 cups fresh tomatoes, diced {skins on} or 5-6 cans of diced or stewed tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp. smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Sour cream {optional}

Details

Adapted from reluctantentertainer.com

Preparation

Step 1

1.In a large, heavy frying pan over medium-high heat, cook the bacon, turning once, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel; allow to cool and crumble the bacon into small pieces.
2.Melt the butter into the bacon grease, and sauté the chopped onion and garlic for about 5 minutes, until slightly browned and softened.
3.Add the diced tomatoes to the onion mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, allowing the tomato mixture to slightly cool.
4.Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender, about 2 cups at a time. When pureeing in a blender, make sure you place a paper towel over the top, in place of the lid, and proceed in pureeing. This will eliminate any splatters.
5.Return the pureed tomato mixture to the large frying pan; add paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Return the soup to a boil, then turn off the heat.
6.Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve the soup in bowls, topped with the crumbled bacon {and sour cream}.
7.Serves 6-8.