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1 medium onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

1 T. oil

1 quart fresh tomatoes, coarsely chopped

2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

6-8 leaves fresh basil, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon butter, optional

Extra basil for garnish

In a medium large saucepan, brown the onion and garlic and jalapeno in the oil. Caramelize (brown) it nicely for that extra flavor.

Add the tomatoes and cook, simmering, until the tomatoes have broken down and are soft and soupy, about 25 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes (it doesn’t have to cool completely, just let it get not super hot). Add the basil. Pour about half of the tomato mixture in a blender or food processor or blend the whole thing with an immersion blender.

Don’t blend the whole thing at once and be sure to vent your blender. Or else.

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Genius.

Blend the other half of the tomatoes and return to the saucepan. Add the broth and the salt and pepper to taste.

Warm the soup back up and, optionally, for a little extra bit of richness, add the butter. Stir in and serve with a basil garnish.

Note: For Cream of Tomato Basil Soup, substitute cream for one cup of the broth. Make sure that after the cream is added the soup never comes to the boil or it will curdle the cream.

I don’t peel or seed the tomatoes. You may if you prefer.

TL