Spicy Tomato Soup

It's amazing how comforting a simple bowl of hot soup can be. It brings back warm and fuzzy memories for me! Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches were a regular on our family menu when I was growing up. Sometimes it was even Sunday dinner!

This comfort food classic is loaded with antioxidants and a great way to start the year off with a bang. I love adding spices like cumin (basically to everything) and some red pepper flakes to give it a kick. If I had my way I would add more spices but gotta feed the kids I guess.

• white onion or red onion
• garlic cloves, diced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
• olive oil
• can of whole peeled canned tomatoes
• gluten free chicken broth or vegetable broth if vegan
• cumin
• red pepper chili flakes
• salt
• black pepper (or cayenne pepper if you like it really spicy)
• sugar
• bacon
• fresh basil leaves (optional)
• grilled cheese sandwich (optional)
• if you like it creamier you can add a little heavy cream at the very end

As you can clearly see these are pantry staples. I suggest you keep this super simple recipe at the ready for those nights when you are exhausted and you just don't know what to cook.

• Place olive oil in a large saucepan and heat over medium heat. I prefer to use my dutch oven for this. Add onions and garlic and saute for about 7-8 minutes or until onions soften and turn translucent.
• Add cumin and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring for one minute. Be careful with the red pepper flakes because they are super spicy.
• Add tomatoes and juices, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and sugar.
• Bring to a low boil then reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 20 minutes.
• Working in batches, blend the soup in a blender until smooth. Use a kitchen towel to carefully cover and hold on to the lid. Return to pot and proceed with the next batch. You can also easily use an immersion blender. A hand blender can be used but it might be a messy venture.
• Serve immediately with grilled cheese and bacon for garnish.

Well, there are several ways to do this. In my case, I use red pepper flakes and a few of those go a long way so be careful. You can also use cayenne pepper or tabasco sauce. If you are simply looking for ways to make tomato soup more fun try these

• croutons (gluten free if needed)
• tortilla strips or crumbled tortilla chips
• parmesan crisp crackers or other crumbled crackers (gluten free if needed)
• shredded cheese, we like Mexican cheese
• salsa
• hot sauce
• leftover proteins, like grilled chicken or steak
• basil
• green onion
• chives
• roasted shallots
• cubed grilled cheese
• poached egg
• nuts
• heavy cream or coconut cream
• sour cream
• Greek yogurt

• Is tomato soup healthy?

Tomato soup is an excellent source of vitamins C, E, and antioxidants. Making it homemade ensures that you know exactly what ingredients are included. I'd be careful with canned soup and take a serious look at the ingredient list. If you are gluten free you need to ensure that it is marked as gluten free. Soups have lots of fillers added and often the ingredient list is very long so beware.

• How do you thicken up tomato soup?

I did not feel the need to do this with my Spicy Tomato Soup Recipe but if want thicker soup you should use a slurry. A slurry isimply a mixture of cornstarch and water that is mixed in a small bowl and then added to the pot and mixed well. Once your soup comes to a boil this slurry mixture should make it thicker.

• How long does Spicy Tomato Soup last in the refrigerator?

I like to place mine in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. It should last for three to four days. Reheat in the microwave oven covered with a paper towel for about a minute.

The grilled cheese is non-negotiable. My favorite gluten free bread is Udi's Multigrain Bread which I am currently buying at Costco. Some people like to use shredded cheese on theirs but I am a straight-up American Cheese girl. Please buy American CHEESE and not cheese food. It's a subtle difference in packaging but the taste is totally different and even the way it melts is better. I prefer Kerrygold butter and generously spread it on both sides.

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