BASIL IN SOUP RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Peel and roughly slice the carrots, slice the celery, and peel and roughly chop the onions. Peel and slice the garlic.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large pan over a medium heat, add all the prepped ingredients, then cook with lid ajar for 10 to 15 minutes, or until softened.
  3. Crumble the stock cubes into a jug, cover with1.5 litres of boiling water, and stir until dissolved.
  4. Add the stock to the veg pan with tinned and fresh whole tomatoes, including the green stalks that may still be attached to some of them (these give an amazing flavour – trust me!).
  5. Give it a good stir and bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes with the lid on. Meanwhile, pick your basil leaves.
  6. Remove the pan from the heat. Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper, then stir through the basil leaves.
  7. Using a stick blender or liquidizer, pulse the soup until smooth. Taste and check the seasoning, then serve.

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion in oil about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
• Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, sugar, salt and pepper. Cover; simmer over medium-low heat 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in half-and-half and basil.
• Carefully pour half of mixture into blender. Cover; blend on high speed about 30 seconds or until smooth. Place blended mixture in bowl. Repeat with second half of mixture. Return blended soup mixture to saucepan; heat over medium-low heat until heated through. Top servings with Parmesan cheese.
• To make ahead and freeze: Make soup as directed in steps 1 and 2; cool to room temperature. Place in 1-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Seal bag. Lay flat and freeze up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw in refrigerator overnight or until completely thawed. Heat in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat; stir in half-and-half and basil. Continue with step 4.