Friends, winter is here, which means many things: one of those being soup, the other being hibernation. The cliché saying is true. Soup, especially when homemade, is good for the soul. There’s just something about cuddling up to a warm bowl of it and instantly feeling warm and relaxed.

I turn to this recipe at least once a month during the colder months. It’s full of the antioxidants and vitamins needed to keep your immune system strong, and most importantly, it’s tastier than that canned stuff. This recipe makes 4 servings. Enjoy, and stay warm.

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Ripe tomatoes and garlic are roasted, then pureed into a creamy soup. Fresh basil and cracked pepper complete the flavor.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 ripe plum tomatoes
• ½ cup of carrots
• ½ cup of chopped red pepper
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• 1 cup of fresh basil
• 1 tsp. of fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tsp. of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbs. of olive oil
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1/2 Red pepper, diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Cut the tomatoes in half.
3. Place them in a large bowl, then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Lightly toss together, coating everything.
5. Arrange tomatoes in a single layer, skin side down, on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
6. Roast in oven for 30-45 minutes or until shriveled and lightly charred. Let cool, then remove the skin and seeds.
7. Place roasted tomatoes, chicken broth, red pepper, carrot, onion, garlic, basil, thyme, Worcestershire sauce in pan with olive oil.
8. Simmer with olive oil on low heat for 10 minutes.
9. Transfer ingredients in a blender or food processor; process until smooth.
10. Return pureed mixture to pan and add salt and pepper.
11. Garnish soup with basil leaves and serve with crusty French bread.

*Roasting Instructions: if you prefer to use canned tomatoes to speed up the process, go for it. Roasting tomatoes is a great skill to have in general for many recipes though, including sandwiches, pasta and tomato paste.