TOMATO BASIL SOUP PASTA RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Cut a small cross in the top of each tomato. Place in a bowl and cover with boiling water for about 2 minutes; drain and cool. Peel skin downward from the cross and discard. Roughly chop flesh. Heat oil in a large heavy-based pan. Add onion, garlic and red pepper; cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until all ingredients are soft. Add tomatoes and cook another 10 minutes.

  2. Add the stock, tomato paste, salt, pepper and sugar. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the basil. Allow to cool. Process in batches, in a food processor or blender, until smooth. Return the mixture to the pan and reheat gently.

  3. Cook the pasta separately in boiling salted water until tender; drain. Add to soup and heat through. Serve sprinkled with fresh basil leaves.

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots. Cook until onions soften and become translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil, chicken or vegetable broth, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered until tomatoes are very soft, about 1 hour.
• Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Alternatively, transfer the soup in batches to a blender to puree. (see note below) Stir in cream and warm over low heat until just hot.
• To serve, place a portion of the pasta in each bowl. Ladle soup over each. Sprinkle with a handful of mozzarella and a tablespoon of parmesan while soup is still hot. Garnish with julienned basil leaves and crushed red pepper.