This summer has been weird. And when I say weird, I mean too stupid freaking hot and humid and it's screwing up my life. I think I have gone a month, maybe more, without making soup. That is just not right. For as long as I can remember I have made soup, or at least eaten soup, just about everyday, even all summer long. But the terrible heat and humidity this year, I just have had no desire. It has been straight up shredded zucchini and whole tomatoes for some time now. I just don't want to have any residual added heat to my life. But the other day, oh how lovely. I woke up with a chill, enough that I needed to grab a long sleeve before leaving the house, and had the very strong urge to return home and get my soup on. And soup on I did!
For my first trip back into soup (oh how I missed soup!), I went simple and used what I, and many, many people have ample supplies of right now. Tomatoes. And beans because I wanted my soup to be thick and creamy and I had the beans so why the heck not.
This soup really requires very little and you get the most thick, delicious, creamy, tomatoey soup. Perfect to eat alone, but is fanatic with some crackers, or a hunk of crusty bread. And it uses a lot of tomatoes which is nice because I am (as are many of you.. My neighbor is bringing me HER tomatoes now too) trying to make a dent in the ever growing pile or these beauties on the counter. This soup dented it, until I went out to the garden a few minutes later. My pile is bigger then ever, which is fine because I am back on my soup game.
The stuff. Lots of tomatoes, some white beans (I used navy, but any white bean would be good) a large onion, a carrot, salt and pepper, a lemon, some olive oil, and honey (optional).
First off, chop the carrot and onion into chunks.
Toss the chopped stuff into a big ol' pot with a drizzle of olive oil and cook on a medium heat until nice and soft.
While veggies are cooking, core and cut up all those tomatoes.
When the veggies have cooked up a bit, add the tomatoes, the beans, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to the pot and give it a good mix. Return to high heat, stirring even so often, until the tomatoes give off enough juiced to start boiling then turn heat down to medium and cook for a little while, like 1/2 an hour or 45 minutes.
Until it looks lit this. The tomatoes have all fallen apart and the beans, carrots and onions are mushy.
Blended with the juice of the lemon and a sprinkle of pepper and more salt if needed.
Now serve into a bowls. Garnish with a drizzle of honey if you are feeling it. Sliced cherry tomatoes make for fancy garnish.
Creamy tomato bean soup for everyone!
Hurray for soup!
-C
Creamy Tomato White Bean Soup
Makes about 1/2 gallon (enough to serve a crowed or enough to serve one for a few days and maybe freeze some for later)
- 10-12 large tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cup or 1 can of cooked white beans (I used navy but any white bean will be good)
- 1 large onion
- 1 large carrot
- I lemon
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- honey (optional)
Start by chopping the onion and carrot up into small chunks. Grab a large heavy bottom pot, drizzle a teaspoon or two of olive on the bottom then toss in the chopped veggies. Place the pot on a medium heat, stirring occasionally until the onion and carrot start to soften.
While the veggies are cooking, core and cut up all the tomatoes. Once the veggies are soft, dump in all the tomatoes, along with the beans and all the liquid they are in. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and turn heat up to high, giving it a good stir until the tomatoes start to get super juicy then bring the pot to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and cook for another half hour to 45 minutes, giving it a stir ever so often. When the tomatoes have completely fallen apart and the carrot, onions, and beans are mushy, you know its done.
Remove the pot from heat and dd in the juice of the lemon. Using a hand blender, blend until it's a smooth creamy consistency. If you only have a counter belnder, let soup cool a little before handling and be really freaking careful and blend a few cups at a time, making sure to have the blender lid on. Hot soup in the face is no fun.
Once soup is creamy and smooth, serve in bowls with a drizzle of honey (totally optional, but some people really like a touch of sweetness to their tomato soup) and more pepper to a taste. Garnish with thinly sliced cherry tomatoes if you are feeling fancy.
Any extra soup can be refrigerated for up to a week. Can also be frozen.