Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 cup onion, diced small
- 1/2 cup carrot, diced small
- 1/2 cup celery, diced small
- 1 tablespoons minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juice reserved
- 1 quart chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon marjoram
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Directions
Set a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and once hot, add the onions, carrots and celery to the pan. Saute the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and the carrots are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste, the tomatoes and their juices to the pan and stir to incorporate. Continue to cook until the liquid comes to a boil. Add the chicken stock and marjoram to the pan and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, season with the salt and pepper, and cook until the flavors have married, about 30 minutes.
Remove the soup from the heat and, using an immersion blender, or in batches in a bar blender, puree the soup until smooth. Return the soup to the heat and add the balsamic vinegar and heavy cream to the soup. Cook for 5 minutes, stir the basil, and serve immediately with the Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:
- 1 cup grated fontina cheese
- 2 cups grated sottocennere cheese, or other truffled cheese
- 20 slices white sandwich bread
- 20 very thin slices prosciutto
- 10 thinly sliced crimini mushrooms
- 1/3 cup olive oil, divided
Combine the cheeses and set aside. Lay 10 slices of bread out on a clean surface. Carefully fold 2 slices of prosciutto onto the bread being sure that the prosciutto does not reach over the edge of the bread. Lay between 9 and 12 slices of mushrooms over the prosciutto in 1 layer, and top with 1/4 cup of the cheese. Place a piece of bread on top of the sandwich and brush with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Heat a grill pan over medium heat and once hot, place 2 sandwiches, olive oil side down on the grill. Brush the exposed side of the sandwich with another teaspoon or so of olive oil. Use a grill press or another pan to weight the sandwiches. Cook the sandwiches for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown grill marks have formed and the cheese is beginning to melt. Turn to the other side and cook for another, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until crispy and the cheese is melted. Remove from the grill and cut in half diagonally. Continue to cook the remaining 8 sandwiches in the same manner.
Serve each sandwich with a cup of the soup.
Yield: 10 sandwiches
Photo: Cream of Tomato Soup with Fontina, Mushroom, Prosciutto and Truffle Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe
















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By BigBeansly1
Vacaville, CA
on December 31, 2011
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I've tried a few of the tomato soup recipes on the FN site, and this was the best. Very easy to make. Nice, bold flavor but not overpowering. Makes a pretty big batch too. I highly recommend trying this recipe. Followed directions exactly and won't change a thing when I make it again...and again...and again.
Oh, I made this along with the FN recipe for "Flatbread with Bacon and Scallion Pesto." A lovely pairing and a hit with the hubby!
By DecentCook
on December 31, 2011
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My only change: add a tablespoon or two of tomato paste. Otherwise, this is sublime. I was motivated to try this recipe after going to a local restaurant and having the best tomato soup I could imagine. I did not even think I was a fan of tomato soup. We came home and gave the recipe a try, adding some shaved parmeasan cheese to the soup. It was very good, almost great, but not quite as good as what we had at the restaurant, which was truly great and quite tomatoey, with a "bite" to it. The following day, I reheated the soup, left out the parmesan, and added a tablespoon or two of tomato paste. That made it bowl-licking good, with just the right "bite." Try it. You won't be disappointed. The consistency is wonderful, very light and airy.
By dennymccormick_...
roanoke, VA
on February 26, 2011
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I was not a big fan of tomato soup until I made this recipe. We had friends over the other night for a simple grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup supper, they said "this is a keeper" and took the recipe home with them. The only thing I'll do different the next time is DOUBLE the recipe.
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