Tomato Soup – Quick Homemade Recipe

Not only was this recipe quick and easy, it also might be best tomato soup I've tried.

Ingredients:

• Tomato- 500 gm (6 med sized)
• Onion, finely chopped- ¼ cup
• Garlic, minced- 5 small cloves
• Butter- 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp (optional~for colour only)
• Red chili powder- ¼ tsp
• Black pepper corns- 5
• Bay leaf- 1
• Cinnamon stick, pounded into small pieces- 1 inch
• Sugar- 1 tsp or to taste
• Salt- to taste
• Water- approx 3 cups
• Parsley or fresh coriander, chopped- 1 tbsp ~ for garnishing
• Croutons , toasted- as required ~ for serving

Method:

• Wash tomatoes and keep aside. Remove the stems if there are any. 
• Boil tomatoes for 15-20 minutes in enough water. (Do not throw this water after boiling, it can be used for soup.) 
• Remove their skin and part of stem. Chop them roughly.
• Heat butter in a sauce pan. Add the bay leaf, pepper corns, cinnamon and saute for 5-6 seconds. 
• Add the garlic and onion and saute for while on a low flame, till the onions become translucent. 
• Now add the chopped tomato, turmeric powder, chili powder and saute for while.
• Add water, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Let the soup come to a boil. Switch of the gas. Discard bay leaf. Let it cool slightly.
• Blend with hand blender in the same pan. (or you may use your mixer grinder.) Do carefully, it may chance of splashing. 
• On this stage you decide that how you like your soup. Strain the soup if you like thin and smooth. Or use as it is if you like thick soup and with some bites.
• Heat soup again. (If you want more thin, add some more water or vegetable stalk in the soup. Adjust salt and pepper also. Boil again.) 
• Pour the steaming hot tomato soup in soup bowls. 
• Add the bread croutons to the soup. 
• Garnish tomato soup with parsley or coriander leaves. 
• Serve the tomato soup piping hot. 

Tip:

• If you wanted to make it a creamy tomato soup, add some cream at the end.
• If you wanted to make it a cheesy, add some cheese at the end.
• You may change Indian spices with Italian seasonings. 

How to make toasted Croutons: 

A healthier option if you love croutons with your soup, but want to avoid the calories. Toast them till they turn crisp and golden brown in colour from both the sides and cut them into cubes. You can use tawa/griddle or pop-up toaster or oven for this. Apply some butter on bread before toasting if you like. They taste just as good as like fried.