Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients

• •2 tbsp butter
• •1 onion, diced
• •3 cloves garlic, minced
• •1 tbsp tomato paste
• •2 cans crushed tomatoes
• •2 cups vegetable broth
• •1/2 cup heavy cream
• •1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• •Salt to taste
• •Pepper to taste

Steps

1. 1.Melt butter in a pot and sauté the onion until deeply softened and lightly caramelized, about 8-10 minutes - rushing this step is what leaves the soup tasting flat.
2. 2.Add garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring, until the paste darkens slightly - browning the paste is what deepens its flavor before the liquid goes in.
3. 3.Stir in the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth; simmer for 15 minutes.
4. 4.Blend the soup until smooth, then stir in the cream and basil off the heat - adding basil after blending keeps it bright instead of dulled by prolonged heat.
5. 5.Season with salt and pepper before serving.