Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil, plus high quality finishing oil, for garnish
- 1 large red onion, diced
- Kosher salt
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed and finely chopped
- 1 cup white wine
- 2 pounds ripe summer tomatoes, diced
- 10 basil leaves, half whole and half cut into chiffonade
- 2 cups tomato juice
- 2 cups day-old Italian bread, crusts removed and cubed
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Directions
Coat a large wide pot with olive oil over medium heat and add the onions. Season with salt and crushed red pepper, to taste, and cook until the onions are soft and very aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Add the wine and cook until it has reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes, season with salt, to taste, and cook until the tomatoes are really soft and juicy, about 12 to 15 minutes. Toss in the whole basil leaves.
Working in batches, carefully puree the tomatoes in a blender*. Return the tomato puree to the pot and add the tomato juice and the bread. Cook the soup over medium heat for until the bread has completely lost its shape and the soup is really thick, about 20 minutes. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
Ladle the soup into bowls and serve garnished with grated cheese, basil chiffonade and a drizzle of big fat finishing oil.
Notes
*When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.
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By mv436
on October 14, 2012
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Very tasty, but the bread became somewhat slimy after simmering for 20 minutes, so I ended up pureeing the whole batch again. I also thought it needed some texture, so I added a can of diced tomatoes at the end and it turned out great. Will serve it with a couple of slices of Italian bread alongside and not add it to the soup next time.
By TrishTheDish27
on July 30, 2012
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Delicious. So quick and easy to make, very flavorful, great recipe!
By mountaingirlupnorth
North Conway NH
on February 25, 2012
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This was a wonderful recipe! I love Anne's cooking and she is so practical and fun to watch. I made this soup following most directions, but did not put the tomato mixture into the blender. Instead, I added the chunks of bread to the tomato mixture, cooked it until the bread was soft, and then put some of the mixture into the blender at that point. The result is a wonderful pureed tomato soup, but also some chunky tomatoes that were added to the soup to add to the flavor and to the texture!
Read all 18 reviews