Oven-Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic Soup
Oven Roasted Tomatoes:
4 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons pure olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place the tomatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet. Combine the garlic and olive oil and brush the tomatoes with it, then season to taste with the salt and pepper. Roast until dried and soft, about 8 hours.
Roasted Garlic:
1/2 cup of cleaned garlic cloves
1/2 cup olive oil
Combine the ingredients in a small pot or ovenware casserole. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes until the garlic cloves become golden brown, or bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes to achieve the same effect. Remove from the heat, and allow the cloves to cool in the oil. Then strain out the cloves and reserve your fresh garlic oil in your refrigerator for vinaigrettes and marinades.
Tomato Soup:
2 tablespoons pure olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups canned plum tomatoes
6 roasted garlic cloves (mash them a bit before pureeing)
Oven roasted tomatoes
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and white pepper
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke and saute the onions until golden. Add the wine, raise the heat to high, and reduce until almost dry. Add the stock, canned tomatoes, roasted garlic and roasted tomatoes and reduce by one-quarter.
Puree the mixture in a food processor and pour into a large pot. Add the thyme, honey and salt and pepper to taste and set aside until just before serving time. Reheat over medium heat and pour into a large serving bowl.
Garnish with slices of Parmesano Reggiano or Parmesan Crisps.
Note: The original is from Bobby Flay. The roasted tomatoes and garlic take extra time, but the flavor is worth it. It's possible that one can do without the roasted tomatoes, but definitely not the roasted garlic. I searched for a tomato soup recipe for nearly two years because I love tomatoes but dislike cream of tomato soup.