Tomato Soup with Cheese and Onion Toast

Ingredients:

For the Tomato Soup:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 2 cans (28 oz each) whole peeled tomatoes
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil, for garnish

For the Cheese and Onion Toast:

  • 4 slices of crusty bread
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions:

Prepare the Tomato Soup:

  1. Sauté Vegetables:
    • In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
    • Add the minced garlic and chopped carrot. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
  2. Add Tomato Base:
    • Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes.
    • Add the whole peeled tomatoes (with their juice), vegetable broth, sugar, dried basil, and dried oregano. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Simmer:
    • Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes.
  4. Blend:
    • Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth, or blend in batches using a regular blender.
  5. Season:
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm on low heat.

Prepare the Cheese and Onion Toast:

  1. Preheat Oven:
    • Preheat your oven’s broiler or a toaster oven.
  2. Prepare Toast:
    • Spread the softened butter on one side of each slice of bread.
    • Place the buttered slices on a baking sheet, buttered side up. Top with thinly sliced onion, then sprinkle with shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
  3. Broil:
    • Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 3-5 minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning.

Serve:

  1. Serve Soup:
    • Ladle the hot soup into bowls.
    • Serve each bowl with a slice of cheese and onion toast.
  2. Garnish:
    • Garnish the soup with fresh basil leaves.

Nutrition Information (per serving):

Tomato Soup:

  • Calories: 160
  • Fat: 8g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
  • Sodium: 690mg
  • Carbohydrates: 22g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Sugars: 10g
  • Protein: 4g

Cheese and Onion Toast (per slice):

  • Calories: 330
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Cholesterol: 50mg
  • Sodium: 550mg
  • Carbohydrates: 26g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugars: 5g
  • Protein: 14g

Total for a bowl of soup with one slice of toast:

  • Calories: 490
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 13g
  • Cholesterol: 50mg
  • Sodium: 1240mg
  • Carbohydrates: 48g
  • Fiber: 7g
  • Sugars: 15g
  • Protein: 18g

Enjoy this delicious and comforting meal!