Chilled Lemongrass Tomato Soup Recipes

CHILLED TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Increase the heat to medium, add the tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until juicy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato juice, basil sprigs and 3 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the tomatoes are very soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add 3 cups bread cubes and return the soup to a simmer. Cook, mashing the bread with a wooden spoon, until broken down, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard the basil sprigs. Stir in the vinegar. Working in two batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth, adding 2 tablespoons olive oil per batch. Refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Before serving, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the remaining 2 cups bread cubes; cook, tossing, until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Season the soup with salt; top with the croutons and chopped basil.

CHILLED HERBED TOMATO SOUP WITH CITRUS AND SPICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-low heat. Add tomatoes with their juice, shallots, lemongrass, ginger and garlic; simmer until liquid evaporates, about 12 minutes. Add honey and simmer until mixture is very thick, stirring frequently, about 8 minutes. Add chicken stock and next 5 ingredients. Simmer 30 minutes.
• Working in batches, strain soup into large bowl, pressing on solids to release juices. Discard solids. Season soup with salt and pepper. Chill soup at least 8 hours.
• Stir lemon juice and aquavit into soup. Garnish with arugula.

COLD TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Put tomatoes and garlic in a non-reactive bowl and sprinkle with salt. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, the black pepper and cayenne. Mix well and leave to macerate for at least 15 minutes, or up to an hour.
• Pulse tomatoes in a food processor or blender until just crushed. Transfer to a strainer or food mill to remove skins and seeds, pressing well to obtain all the juices. You should have about 5 cups. Add enough ice water to yield 6 cups. Stir well, taste and adjust seasoning. Chill on a bowl of ice for 15 minutes or refrigerate for up to several hours.
• Make the pepper relish about 30 minutes before serving: Put diced bell peppers and onions in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar, mix well and set aside.
• To serve, rub each toast lightly with garlic. Top toasts with thick slices of avocado and season with salt and pepper. Place an avocado toast in each bowl and ladle in about 1 cup of chilled soup per serving. Garnish with a generous spoonful of pepper relish and a sprinkling of parsley and chives.

THAI LEMONGRASS AND CHILE SOUP (TOM YUM)

Steps:

• In medium saucepan, heat vegetable broth to a simmer with lemongrass and lime leaves if desired.
• In small skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add garlic and ginger, and cook, stirring often, about 30 seconds.
• When broth has simmered for 5 minutes, remove lemongrass and lime leaves and discard.
• Add cooked garlic and ginger to broth.
• Return broth to a boil, and stir in chile paste and mushrooms.
• Cook until mushrooms have wilted, about 30 seconds, then stir in lime juice and fish sauce.
• Remove from heat, and ladle soup into small bowls along with your favorite rice noodles.
• Top each bowl with chopped tomatoes, cilantro and a pinch of hot green chiles if you want it really really spicy.
• Alternatively, tomatoes and chiles can be mixed together and placed in small serving bowl for people to help themselves (this way people can make it as spicy as they want).
• For Vegetarian/Vegan omit the fish sauce and use the soy.

CHILLED LEMONGRASS-TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Discard 1 or 2 outer leaves of lemongrass and trim root ends. Finely chop enough lemongrass from lower 6 inches of stalks to measure 1/4 cup total.
• In a small saucepan combine lemongrass and 1 cup tomato water and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine sieve into another small saucepan, discarding solids, and stir in gelatin. Heat mixture over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved. In a large bowl stir gelatin mixture into remaining 5 cups tomato water. Chill tomato-water mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day. Discard rind and seeds from watermelon and finely chop enough fruit to measure 3/4 cup.
• Divide soup among 6 bowls and just before serving add watermelon, chives, and mint.