Tom's Tasty Tomato Soup with Brown Butter Croutons

Ingredients for Tom's Tasty Tomato Soup with Brown Butter Croutons

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

• 3 garlic cloves, smashed with the side of a knife and peeled

• 1200ml canned whole tomatoes in juice

• 240ml water

• 160ml double cream

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed

• 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed

• 1/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

• 1/4 teaspoons celery seed

• 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano or 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 4 slices european-style rustic bread, crusts removed, cut into 3/4- to 1-inch cubes (30 to 36 cubes)

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, water, cream, salt, red pepper flakes, celery seed, oregano, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and simmer for 15 minutes.

2. Remove from the heat and puree in batches in the container of a blender. Return the soup to the pot and reheat to a simmer, seasoning to taste with more salt and pepper.

3. Meanwhile, to make the brown butter croutons, preheat the oven to 177°C. Heat the butter in a small pan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the butter is golden brown and aromatic, about 3 minutes after the butter melts. Remove from the heat. Put the bread cubes in a bowl and pour the brown butter over them, tossing to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and toss again. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and place it in the oven. Bake until the croutons are toasted and golden, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the oven.

4. Serve the soup hot, garnished with the croutons.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.