Description
adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
Ingredients
Units
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 medium onion, chopped medium (about 1 cup)
- 3 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
- Pinch hot red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes packed in juice
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (I ended up adding 2 more teaspoons)
- 3 large slices good-quality sandwich bread, crusts removed, torn into 1-inch pieces (I used pre-sliced Italian bread)
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp brandy (optional)
- 1 tbsp chopped basil (optional)
- 1 tbsp butter (optional)
- Salt and ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), and bay leaf. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and their juice. Using potato masher, mash until no pieces bigger than 2 inches remain. Stir in sugar and bread; bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until bread is completely saturated and starts to break down, about 5 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf.
- If using an emulsion blender, turn the heat off, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and puree the mixture until smooth. If using a traditional blender, transfer half of soup to blender and add 1 tablespoon oil and process until soup is smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and repeat with remaining soup and oil. Rinse out Dutch oven and return soup to pot.
- Stir in chicken broth and brandy (if using). Return soup to boil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the chopped basil and butter (if using) and serve soup in individual bowls. Sprinkle each portion with pepper and chives and drizzle with olive oil.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
