Joes Italian Tomato Basil Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Melt the butter with the oil over low heat in a heavy bottom pot.
• Add the onion; wilt over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic during the last 2 minutes, stirring.
• Add the tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover; cook over medium-low heat for 60 minutes. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Add basil. Stir in the cream or half & half, simmer for another 30 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
• Note: When tomatoes are in-season use fresh tomatoes, blanch for 8 minutes and process with food processor. In the winter, use a San Marzano-type canned tomato, drain half of the liquid and process in food processor.

Steps:

• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Stir in half the garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, basil sprigs or leaves and remaining garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add the water, Parmesan rind and salt to taste. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 minutes. Add the tapioca or rice, and simmer for another 15 minutes until the tapioca is tender and the soup fragrant. Remove the basil sprigs and Parmesan rind. Puree in a blender in small batches, taking care to place a towel over the top of the blender and hold it down tightly. If you used fresh unpeeled tomatoes and want a silkier soup, put through a strainer, using a spatula or the back of a ladle to push the soup through. Return to the pot, add pepper to taste and adjust salt. Serve garnished with garlic croutons and/or Parmesan, if desired, and slivered basil leaves. If serving cold, refrigerate until chilled.

Steps:

• NOTE: USE ONE 12-OZ CAN TOMATO PASTE, OR TWO 6-OUNCE CANS. USE VERY COLD WATER. (STEP 1): VIGOROUSLY whisk ingredients in a 2 1/2 quart saucepan until smooth.
• BRING mixture to a boil for one minute while whisking then reduce heat.
• SIMMER soup for 15 minutes, then remove bay leaf.
• LADLE into serving bowls and garnish as desired.
• SERVE and enjoy.