Playing Favorites: tomato soup from scratch, the French way

I used my last onion when I made the soup two nights ago

It is my understanding that in some places in our beloved embattled country, cold weather is setting in. Winter is on the doorstep, knocking at the door.

That's nice but where I live, as per usual for November, it is relentless Indian Summer.

In my Zip code, today and tomorrow it will be eighty degrees again, with zero cloud cover and endless insanely blue sky and blindingly bright you'll-put-your-eye-out sunshine.

(I like rainy days, so connect the dots and yes, you are correct in assuming that I'm a trifle grumpy about it and yes I know that's silly but step off.)

However, I digress so let's get the point.

The point is -- actually there are two points, the first being, as established above, I know that for many of my cherished readers, it is soup weather. The second is, I have searched this blog and have found that, to my great surprise, I have not yet shared with you my homemade tomato soup recipe.

I'm sincerely hoping that I did not obtain this recipe from one of you because if I did I would give credit where it is due, but I don't remember where I got it.

It was fairly recently -- like, maybe last year or the year before -- that I added this recipe to my repertoire, and in fact I had sort of forgotten about it until Audrey reminded me a week or two ago that she makes it regularly and likes to have it on hand because it is so good, she could eat it every day.

Many years ago, while on a visit to Canada where my sister then lived, I was schooled by my nieces on how to make tomato soup from scratch. For years, theirs was my go-to recipe.

It involved preparing a medium-thick bechamel (white sauce) from flour, butter, and milk, then adding pureed tomatoes and seasonings.

It's fabulous but the recipe I'm about to share with you is possibly tastier, and probably healthier.

Here's what you do:

Into a medium saucepan dump one large can of Cento San Marzano peeled tomatoes, half a stick of butter, two cups of chicken stock, and one onion cut into chunks.

(You can use non-San Marzano tomatoes but it will not be the same.)

(You can also use water instead of chicken broth but it will not be as good.)

Allow the mixture to come to a full boil, then turn it down to your lowest setting and cover the pan.

Feel free walk away for forty-five minutes or so; it does not have to be stirred or watched.

At the end of that time, carefully pour the hot mixture into your blender and -- carefully! -- liquefy it.

(Don't put the whole cover on the blender to do this; twist out the knob in the middle of the lid and loosely cover the opening with a paper towel or dish cloth.)

Pour the soup back into the pan. Season to taste. You are there.

This is (I am told) the French way to make tomato soup. It's also the freshest and easiest way.

One thing to be aware of is that it is a slightly thicker tomato soup than you may be used to. If that bothers you, I guess the thing to do would be to add a little more chicken stock.

The only thing I do is make grilled cheese sandwiches with rustic bread and sharp cheddar, ladle out the soup, and dig in.

Sorry I don't have a picture of a bowl of this wonderful soup, with the grilled cheese sammy alongside.

We ate it all.

(Luckily it is not eighty degrees outside at suppertime. And since we've had no need for our furnace yet, it's chilly enough in the house to truly enjoy a bowl of hot soup.)

In the event that you, like me, occasionally hanker for a bowl of piping hot, comforting tomato soup, I hope you will make this, and let me know what you think!

And that is all for now.

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Happy Wednesday

Comments

[Mari-Nanci]

Tomato Soup and Toasted Cheese Sandwiches! They say COMFORT!!!

And a homemade Soup, would say it, LOUDER! -gigggles-

😊 🔥 😊

[Jennifer]

@Mari-Nanci ... Yes! Deafening! In a good way! Ice cream for dessert. xoxo

[Mari]

Yes ma'am - we are in the soup season here! We had cheesy potato soup for supper here.
You know how TG feels about mint? Bon feels the same way about tomatoes. So unfortunately, tomato soup is not ever on our menu. This sounds so good though. I may just make a batch for me!

[Carla TePaske]

We love tomato soup! Thank you for the recipe.

[Ginny Hartzler]

Oh YUM! Nothing is much more comforting than this. And what about topping it with grilled cheese croutons, too? Thanks!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... you know what's nice about this recipe? It makes only enough for about three bowls. So do make some for yourself! And tell Bon the pirate said tomatoes are good for you, haaahaha xoxo

@Carla ... You're welcome! I hope you try it! xoxo

@Ginny ... WOW now that sounds kicked up! I do believe I will take your advice! xoxo

[Debbi]

Soup sounds great! I love soup! I love to make big big batches of homemade soups in the crock pot. Chili of course, chicken noodle, stews, taco soup (a new favorite!),and "tater" soup. We then have lots of left overs to feed us for several nights. I HAVE NEVER made tomato soup.........but this recipe sure sounds good! And pretty easy! I may give it a try. And oh YES!! i DO LOVE A GOOD HOT grilled cheese sandwich, or two!! They are delicious any time, but especially in the fall and winter seasons. All hot and melty and so good. Have you ever had a patty-melt? They used to be popular up north at restaurants like Frischs . Oh gosh, I miss Frischs!!---BIG BOYS, THE BEST EVER, and onion rings and cherry cokes and they had a dessert called "hot fudge cake" which is easily replicated at home. I used to make it for the kids growing up. It's devils food cake layers, in between the two layers, you put vanilla ice cream and then top it all with really hot fudge sauce, and whipped cream of course. LOL. And oh my gosh they had delicious FISH SANDWICHES, which they discontinued many years ago I guess. I was sad to see them gone on our last trips up North. Yes, Mr. Front Porch said y'all are getting warmer temps there inland and we have stayed pretty chilly the past week HOWEVER!---today it was in the 70s and pretty warm! It was nice, but last night outside I was sure CHILLY. Hugs my friend!

[Jennifer]

@Debbie ... Yes you had quite the nice walk last evening! We are finally set to cool down here starting tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. And YES I remember and love Frisch's Big Boy! We ate at one while coming home from Chicago a few summers ago. Our daughter Audrey worked at a Frisch's BB for her very first job, waitressing as a high schooler when we lived in Ohio in the late '90s. Wonderful nostalgic place! I loved their breakfast buffet! All the bacon you could eat! The fudge cake was out of this world. I hope you will try making the homemade tomato soup! xoxo

[Jeanette]

Oh that sounds delicious! I haven't had tomato soup and grilled cheese for a long time! I will definitely be making this soon!

[Lori]

Tomato is my husbands favorite soup so I am going to add this to the list of soups this Winter. It sounds wonderful. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

[Jeanette]

So I bought all of the ingredients and am making this soup today along with grilled cheese sandwiches! Perfect meal for a cold Sunday!

[Jane]

The soup sounds delicious. I'm the only tomato soup lover in this house, so it's no use of me making any, though.

[Bijoux]

Thank you for this delicious sounding recipe. Guess what my favorite soup is? Thick and rich tomato soup! My faves are Panera and my grocer’s fresh food section, but unfortunately, both are full of sodium, so I no longer purchase. I’ve never made it myself because no one else in my household would eat it, but after checking the sodium content on that can of tomatoes, I think I need to give it a try and portion some out to freeze.

[Liberty Belle]

Thanks for sharing your recipe!

[Barb]

Our favorite is tomato soup. Your recipe actually seems easy enough for me to try. I'd have some to freeze for leftovers which is always good. As for toasted cheese - YES! Hope you and family had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, Jenny. We finished the leftovers last night, and I don't think Bob is too keen to hear that turkey is on the menu for awhile. I finally used Jiffy mix to make corn casserole. Bob liked it.

[Gayla]

I see my comment did not go through last week. I was having problems with my wifi. This soup sounds perfect! Perfect enough to make me hunt for my blender. Certain weather demands the right kind of fare. My friend and I debate over is it grilled cheese or toasted cheese! And what kind of cheese. Take care , dear and enjoy any cold snap. We are in for some cold weather soon but it has been mild! .

[Donna (Texas)]

Hi girlfriend! I know...it's been absolutely ages! I've been so bad about posting.
But that soup sounds yummy! I'll certainly be trying it. Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving...
Here's to another year!
hughugs
Donna

[Jennifer]

December 2 ... FIRST let me apologize to everyone whose comments languished behind the scenes on my website until today when I was astonished to see that there were ANY comments to approve, let alone so many. I have been sidelined ... but I'm baaaaack! Read all about it in today's post. Now to answer each and every comment:

@Jeanette ... Yay!!! How did you like it: I hope you liked it and don't throw rotten tomatoes at me, haaahaha xoxo

@Lori ... thanks for stopping by! I hope you will try it and give big guy even more of a break from turkey, haahaaa! Throw some of those onion rings in for good measure. xoxo

@Jane ... this is a really small recipe! Three bowlsful, max. You won't even have to freeze it! xoxo

@Bijoux ... ugh I LOVE Panera's tomato soup! My mom did too, and while she was in her last days but could still eat, she had me go to Panera and get us some. This is very different from that but still amazingly good, and as you say, you can add just as much salt as you like. I hope you'll try it! xoxo

@Liberty Belle ... you are most welcome and I hope you try it! Good to see you. xoxo

@Barb ... YESSSS! Make some and you will not be sorry. Something to go with your toasted cheese, haha, which is pure comfort on a cold day. We had a great holiday and I will be blogging about it today. Hooray for Jiffy Mix! Merry Christmas, my friend! xoxo

@Gayla ... oh do find the blender and try it! Although a submersible blender stick would work just as well ... wish I had one! And it's grilled cheese, haaaha! Sorry your other comment did not go through. It's very very mild here too, springlike even ... I trust we'll see some cooler temps soon. xoxo

@Donna ... My friend! Thank you for the lovely Christmas card! So good to see you! I wish you would blog like the old days, haha! Please do try the soup! Love you! xoxo