Tomato Velvet Soup Recipe 55

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium-high. When butter melts, add onion, garlic, and 2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring often, until soft and golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in flour; cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes and juice, broth, and basil sprigs. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until tomatoes are very soft and breaking down, about 20 minutes. Discard basil sprigs and let cool slightly.
• Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth; return to saucepan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, rewarm over medium-low heat, divide among bowls, and top with basil leaves, a drizzle of oil, and more black pepper.

Steps:

• The secret to this soup's delicate flavor is that the basil is never exposed to heat, which often makes the herb taste rather harsh and sharp. 1. Blanch tomatoes with boiling water, core them and slip off peelings. Working over a sieve set over a large bowl, split crosswise and scoop out seeds into sieve. Discard seeds and roughly chop tomatoes. Add to collected juices and set aside. 2. Sweat onion in butter in a soup pot over medium heat until wilted and translucent, but not colored, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and juice, water, hot pepper (left whole), parsley and a large pinch salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer slowly until tomatoes break down and onion is tender, about 30 minutes. Turn off heat. 3. Remove and discard hot pepper and parsley. Puree in a blender or food processor. Stir in milk or half and half. Cool, cover and chill. Taste and adjust seasonings. 4. Drizzle each serving with cream or whip cream until it holds soft peaks and put a dollop in center of each serving. Sprinkle with herbs and white pepper.