Velvety Tomato Cream Soup with Croutons and Pesto
vxdaA warming tomato cream soup with a deep flavor, perfect for any time of year. Served with crispy, golden croutons baked with mozzarella and fragrant, freshly prepared basil pesto, it creates a truly satisfying and flavorful composition. This is a dish that will satisfy palates looking for both comfort and sophisticated culinary experiences.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pcs onion
- 2 pcs clove garlic
- 1 pcs carrot
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 pinch hot pepper
- 1 pinch sugar
- 60 ml white wine — (optional)
- 2 pcs fresh tomato
- 500 ml vegetable broth
- 800 g diced tomato — (2 cans)
CROUTONS WITH MOZZARELLA
- 1 pcs ciabatta or baguette
- 200 g shredded mozzarella
BASIL PESTO
- 1 pcs basil bunch — (from one "pot")
- 1 pcs clove garlic
- 10 g parmesan cheese or grana padano cheese
- 3 tbsp nut — (e.g. pine nuts, cashews or any)
- 70 ml extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
PREPARATION
- 1
In a saucepan, heat the olive oil, add the diced onion, halved and peeled garlic, and peeled carrot cut into thin slices. Fry, stirring occasionally, for about 4 - 5 minutes.
- 2
Add the oregano, sweet and hot paprika, sugar and mix. Pour in the wine, if using, and cook for a minute.
- 3
Peel and dice the fresh tomatoes, add to the pot. Cook for 2 minutes, season with salt and pepper.
- 4
Pour in the hot broth and bring to a boil. Add the chopped canned tomatoes and cook for about 10-12 minutes.
- 5
Blend in a blender until creamy, check the seasoning with salt and pepper and serve with mozzarella croutons and pesto.
CROUTONS WITH MOZZARELLA AND PESTO
- 1
Preheat the broiler in the oven. Cut the bread into slices, sprinkle with grated mozzarella.
- 2
Prepare the pesto: tear off the basil leaves and place in a mini food processor, add the peeled garlic, cheese, nuts and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and blend into a pesto.
- 3
Put the croutons in the oven and bake until the bread and cheese are browned, for about 4 minutes.
- 4
After baking, spread with pesto and serve with hot cream soup.
Notes
- To enrich the taste and visual qualities, the soup can be decorated with a dollop of sour cream, mascarpone cheese, or a few balls of fresh bufala mozzarella just before serving.
- If you prefer a milder taste, you can omit the hot paprika.
- Depending on the season, you can add fresh herbs to the soup, such as thyme or rosemary, which will beautifully emphasize the taste of tomatoes.