Classic Tomato Soup with Homemade Croutons

By ldelmas

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 Tbsp minced garlic, divided
• 2-1/2 lbs fresh tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 3 cups vegetable stock
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp dried oregano, divided
• 4 slices thick white bread or Texas toast
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1-1/4 tsp salt, divided
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 8 slices cheddar cheese

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from qvc.com

Preparation

Step 1

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 Tbsp minced garlic, divided
2-1/2 lbs fresh tomatoes, roughly chopped
3 cups vegetable stock
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp dried oregano, divided
4 slices thick white bread or Texas toast
4 Tbsp butter
1-1/4 tsp salt, divided
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp hot sauce
8 slices cheddar cheese
Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.


To prepare the soup, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and 1 Tbsp of the garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stock, paste, basil, sugar, and 1 tsp of the oregano. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.


Meanwhile, make the croutons. Cut a 2-1/2" circle from each slice of bread and place the slices on a baking sheet. In a small skillet, melt the butter with the remaining garlic, oregano, and 1/4 tsp of salt over medium heat. Sauté the butter for 1 minute and remove the pan from the heat. Spoon the butter over each bread round and top with the Parmesan. Bake for 15 minutes. Set the bread aside. Don't turn off the oven; preheat the broiler.


After 30 minutes, remove the soup from the heat. Carefully add half of the soup to a blender and mix until smooth. Pour the mixture into a bowl and then blend the remaining half. Stir in the remaining soup and add the salt, black pepper, and hot sauce.


To serve, place 4 mugs on a baking sheet. Ladle the soup into the mugs and top each with a crouton and 2 slices of Cheddar cheese. Place under the broiler until the cheese melts, about 8–10 minutes, or until golden brown.