Homemade Tomato-Basil Soup with Cheese Toasts

Babs in Toyland's Note:

I really love the Tomato Basil soup from La Madeleine but it has a lot of butter and cream in it and this sounded like a healthier alternative. I got the recipe from the grocery store where I shop.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 3

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium sweet onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can peeled diced tomatoes or 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Cheese Toasts

• 1 baguette, cut into 12 thick slices
• 1 -2 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 cup shredded Italian cheese blend (available in most supermarkets)

Directions:

1. For the Soup: In medium pot over medium heat, stir oil, onions and garlic until soft- about 3 minutes.
2. Add tomatoes, broth and basil and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and cook gently for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Serve with cheese toasts (see below).
5. For cheese toasts: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Place bread in a single layer on baking sheet, lightly brush top with oil, sprinkle each with a tablespoon of cheese.
7. Bake ten minutes until golden.
8. Serve 2 cheese toasts with each bowl of soup.

Reviews

[Susang]

Oops almost forgot to rate this! I made this last week for dinner. Comes together very easily on a working weeknight. The only thing I changed was adding another clove of garlic. Really enjoyed this. I did use an immersion blender, but left some chunks of tomato in it. I thought it was even better the next day for lunch.

[LARavenscroft]

Very easy soup to make - the only thing I would say is to make sure you use the amount of basil recommended in the recipe - I didn't have the much and the basil flavor wasn't there. Think that next time I will use my immersion blend to make it smoother.

[Mean Mary]

This is my go-to soup. I am doing my best to eat healthier and I find that if I make a double batch of this, it feeds me for lunch and dinner for over a week. It would nbe needless to say I don't make the cheese toast. I love the combination of flavors and have shared this with friends and neighbors alike. I have also sent the link to friends that have heard me rave about it. Thanks for posting this.