Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Compulsory for a gloomy, wet weekend.
It’s been raining all weekend and we spent a hungover day holed up at home, wrapped in blankets, watching movies and feeling pathetic. It’s not super cold yet, but when you are feeling fragile, comfort is priority. Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches was just the ticket – pretty easy to make and to eat.
I always have canned tomatoes in the pantry. I buy 3 to 4 cans at a time because one brand or another will have a special deal on. Canned tomatoes are a handy base for pasta dishes, nachos, stews and more recently, tomato soup.
In terms of equipment, you really need 1 large saucepan and a stick blender. You can use a regular blender if that’s all you have. I would use 1/2 a cup of milk minimum. If you’re prefer a bit more milk or even full fat cream, go for it!
Tomato Soup
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 cans of canned whole or diced tomatoes (400 grams/14.5oz each)
- 1 can of water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- A pinch of smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 to 1 cup milk
- sugar (optional)
- salt (optional)
- Fresh pepper
Preparation
- Peel and slice onion and garlic clove.
- Heat 1 tablespoon cooking oil in a large saucepan, medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions are cooked but not browned.
- Add both cans of tomato plus 1 can measure of water. Add tomato paste, smoked paprika and honey.
- Stir and bring to boil. Bring heat down to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and using a stick blender, blend the soup until smooth.
- In a small container dissolve 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda with a table spoon of milk. Add to the soup along with 1/2 cup to 1 cup milk. Mix well.
- Taste the soup and if it’s a little sour or under seasoned stir in a teaspoon of sugar and/or a pinch of salt.
- Divide between 4 bowls and add a little drizzle of cream, or milk and fresh pepper if you’re feeling flash. Serve with a monster pile of grilled cheese sandwiches.
*Note on baking soda. Baking soda with tomato is an old trick to reduce the acidity of the tomato. Too much baking soda and the soup will foam up and also alter the flavour. A little bit of foaminess helps make the soup creamy.
Bunny Eats Design 
Yum! We love grilled cheese and tomato soup :3 What does the baking soda do for the soup?
Apparently it makes for a creamy texture without the addition of cream and cuts down acidity. I tasted the soup during cooking and thought it was tart, though I haven’t tried it without baking soda. I decided not to risk it.
Yummm I haven’t had homemade tomato soup yet, should try this out. My comfort food for this gloomy weekend was cake. Lots and lots haha
Cake definitely counts as comfort food 🙂
Hi Genie, I love tomato soup but had never got around to making it myself. Your recipe looks great and will be using it. Have a great Sunday!
Hi Sofia! Let me know how you get on and if you have any questions about the recipe.
I too have canned tomatoes on hand but I prefer to buy only certain brands that have low sodium; most American brands are do packed with salt it’s ridiculous. Hope you feel better soon.
You’re right Eva, sodium levels can vary so much. I would prefer if they all just went low sodium by default. Any home cook knows to add salt if their dish is lacking.
One of my favorite childhood meals. Your soup sounds great. Interesting about the baking soda.
Your soup looks so delicious (especially with the grilled cheese!) I love the addition of paprika and honey too!
Any excuse to use smoked paprika. I love the stuff. It tastes like bacon to me.
This homey tomato soup along side a perfect grilled cheese would be one of my favorite comfort meals ever.
Agreed, Geni 🙂
great idea to add honey to the stock! it is a nice way to add sugar without putting granulated or raw sugar straight into it. the soup also seems to have a nice texture. that grilled cheese looks delicious by the way! yummmm!
This is one of my all-time favorite combinations. I also have to add that grilled cheese is one of the only three time that I ever insist on American Cheese (or processed cheese food product). The other two are burgers and crappy Velveeta-chili dip!
We don’t have American cheese here. Though from what I’ve read online, it’s not really cheese. 😉
*ducks in case of flying objects*
I wholeheartedly agree! It’s not cheese at all! But if you have ever had a crappy cheeseburger from McDonald’s, you know what I’m talking about 😉
And I don’t want any other kind of “dairy” on my burger!
Ha. Glad you didn’t take offense 🙂
I think the closest thing we have to American cheese are cheese slices but they aren’t melty. They go a bit softer, but not gooey.
I can send you some 🙂 They will probably survive the overseas shipping and lack of refrigeration quite nicely 🙂
They might even survive nuclear fallout 🙂
Yes! Cockroaches won’t go near it! 🙂
Wow what a nice and vibrant soup
Ooh, I think I might have to make this for lunch today! I didn’t know about the baking soda thing – I am really keen to try that out!
The ultimate combination! Just this morning, I was wondering, when was the last time I had tomato soup. I’m taking this post as a sign from the food gods.
Slowly stir in reserved tomato juice–broth mixture, remaining tomatoes, baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt and bring to boil.