Caramelized Onion and Tomato Soup

This is a great way to use garden tomatoes and basil. You’ll never want to go back to the canned stuff after you try this!

Adapted from Ambitious Kitchen

| Yield: 4 Servings | Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes |

Ingredients

For the roasted tomatoes

3 pounds roma or plum tomatoes, cut in half

8 cloves garlic, peeled

3 tablespoons olive oil

Freshly ground salt and pepper

For the caramelized onions

½ tablespoon olive oil

2 yellow onions, thinly sliced

For the Soup

½ cup packed basil leaves

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1-2 cups water or vegetarian broth, depending on how thick you want the soup

Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place halved tomatoes and garlic cloves on the baking sheet and drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Generously season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

While the tomatoes are roasting, you can make the caramelized onions: Add ½ tablespoon olive oil to a large pot and place over medium heat. Add the onion slices and stir to coat the onions with olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally. Check onions every 5-10 minutes until they have completely caramelized and turned golden in color. This ususally takes 20 minutes.

Once tomatoes and garlic are done roasted, allow them to cool for 10 minutes, then add them to a food processor or high powered blender and blend until smooth. Next add basil and caramelized onions and blend again. Alternatively you can add the tomatoes to the large pot and use an immersion blender. You choose!

After blending, transfer back to pot, turn to medium low heat and add in oregano, vegetarian broth and salt and pepper to taste. Add ½ cup of packed basil leaves, chopped, and stir. Allow tomato soup to simmer 10 minutes before serving. To serve, garnish with parmesan cheese and serve with grilled cheese, if desired.