Comfort Essentials The Ultimate Bacon Tomato Soup Recipes

HEIRLOOM GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH AND CHUNKY TOMATO BACON SOUP

Steps:

• To make the grilled cheese sandwich: In a small mixing bowl, combine butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. Spread a liberal amount of butter mixture on 2 slices of bread. Flip over slices and spread some Dijon mustard on other sides. Place Cheddar cheese on the Dijon side of both slices. Place bacon on top of cheese on 1 slice and sliced tomatoes on top of cheese on other slice. Combine both sides together and place in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook until golden brown and crusty. Flip sandwich and place a weighted cast iron pan on top. Cook until golden brown and cheese has melted. Remove from skillet and serve immediately with tomato soup.
• To make the soup: Puree the crushed tomatoes and set aside. In a heavy stainless steel pot, heat basil olive oil. Add shallots and cook until soft. Add garlic, thyme, chopped basil, bacon, and tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add tomato puree, cream, chicken broth, and salt and sugar, to taste. Bring to a simmer. Pour soup into bowls and garnish with chiffonnade basil. Serve immediately with grilled cheese sandwich.

COMFORT ESSENTIALS: AUTUMNAL TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. Getting the "right" can of tomatoes will make all the difference to making an average tomato soup, into an amazing tomato soup. I posted two recipes: One that talks about selecting the right type of canned tomatoes, and another one that talks about getting rid of the bitter taste in tomatoes. I strongly suggest that you read through them when making this recipe. https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/soup/soup-other-soup/cooking-class-the-best-canned-tomatoes.html?r=1 https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/sauce-spread-other-sauce-spread/removing-the-bitter-taste-from-canned-tomatoes.html?r=12
• 3. You could use veggie stock, chicken stock; even beef stock, for a hardier flavor. However, I would stick to stock, and not broth.
• 4. If you want to make this a cream soup, add about 1/4 cup of heavy cream at the very end, and warm into the soup.
• 5. Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• 6. OPTIONAL STEP Go to my article on removing the bitter taste from canned tomatoes, follow the enclosed steps, and then reserve. This is an optional step; however, it will make a flavor difference to your tomato soup.
• 7. Add the oil and butter to a pot over low heat.
• 8. When the foaming subsides, add the onion, and leeks, then cook until they soften, but do not brown, about 10 - 15 minutes.
• 9. Add the celery and cook an additional 5 minutes.
• 10. Add the garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.
• 11. Chef's Note: We are looking for a low, slow heating process here. I want the veggies to release some of their liquids and get to know each other. If, at any time, the veggies look like they are browning, lower the heat. As a matter of fact, I would say that at this point in the recipe, we are sweating the veggies not cooking them.
• 12. Chef's Note: Since the heat is low, low, it will not hurt the veggies if you allow them to sweat for another 15 or so minutes. Just be absolutely sure that they do not brown. The longer you sweat the veggies, the more intense the flavor will be.
• 13. Add the flour and stir for 2 - 3 minutes.
• 14. Add the stock, and reserved tomatoes, stir to combine, and bring up to a simmer.
• 15. Start with the sugar... Give the soup a taste, if it still has a bitter taste, add a pinch or two of sugar. If you followed the steps in my other post, it should not have a bitter taste; however, a small bit of sugar can go a long way to removing any bitterness.
• 16. Add salt, pepper, and a pinch of red-pepper flakes to taste.
• 17. Cover, reduce the heat to low, then allow the soup to simmer for about 30 - 40 minutes.
• 18. Allow the soup to cool slightly, and puree in a blender or food processor, fitted with an S-blade.
• 19. Return to the pot and keep warm (not hot) until ready to serve.
• 20. Chef's Tip: Do a final tasting for proper seasoning.
• 21. Notes On Optional Items: Sugar can reduce the amount of bitterness in this recipe; however, a little goes a long way, and I do not want a "sweet" tomato soup. So, add a pinch or two at a time, give it a bit of time to incorporate into the recipe, and then add a more if necessary. Crushed Fennel Seeds: I cannot imagine a good Autumn tomato soup without a few crushed fennel seeds. Cumin and Cayenne: Cumin give depth, and cayenne gives heat. As the temps get cooler, I add a bit more of both of these spices... Helps to warm the soul. Lemon Juice: Added at the very end, it helps to brighten the soup up, and is a great addition.
• 22. PLATE/PRESENT
• 23. Serve warm, maybe topped with a bit of cheese; with crackers or bread on the side. Enjoy.
• 24. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

VIVI'S BACON AND TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Place the bacon pieces and onion into a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat, and cook and stir until the onion is beginning to brown and the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef bouillon cubes, water, garlic powder, onion powder, and cooked macaroni, and bring to a boil. Cover the pot, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

APPLE BACON TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, coarsely chop, and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and saute white onion and garlic 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender. Stir in beef stock, pinto beans, tomatoes, celery, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook and stir the apple in the red wine until soft.
• Mix bacon, apple, and remaining red wine into the soup mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally until well blended.

COMFORT ESSENTIALS: THE ULTIMATE BACON TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• A classic French mirepoix (meer-PWAH) consists of 2-parts onion, 1-part carrot, and 1-part celery (2-1-1), all determined by weight, and diced. It is a flavor base for many classic and traditional soups, stews, stocks, and sauces. So, if you chopped up an onion, and it weighs in at 4 ounces, you would need 2 ounces of carrot, and 2 ounces of celery. For this recipe we will dispense with the formality of weighing the ingredients. So, for our recipe dice: • 1/2 medium yellow onion • 1 medium carrot • 1 stalk celery If you have a bit more than the recipe calls for, no worries, just toss it in the pot. A traditional mirepoix is typically not sautéed over high heat; the intention is to sweeten the ingredients, not to caramelize them.
• If you do a lot of soups and stews (I do during the cold months), you could spend one snowy afternoon chopping up a bunch of onions, carrots, and celery, weighing out the proportions (2-1-1), and making a big batch of mirepoix, then freeze it in 1 cup portions. Simply pull out a bag, when needed. You should blanch the veggies for about 2 minutes before sticking in the freezer.
• Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• Chop up the veggies for the mirepoix and reserve.
• Add the diced bacon to a soup pot, over medium heat.
• Cook until the bacon renders its fat, and crisps, about 4 - 5 minutes. Mmmm... Bacon
• Add the mirepoix, and garlic to the pot with the bacon, and bacon fat.
• Cook, occasionally stirring, until the veggies soften, about 4 - 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste, and stir to combine, about 1 minute.
• Add the chicken stock, and stir to combine, about 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes and dried thyme, then stir to combine, about 1 minute.
• Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, allow to cool for a few minutes, and then puree in a blender. You may have to do this step in batches.
• Chef's Tip: Care should be exercised any time you are blending warm, or hot liquids. When you turn on the blender, they can expand, and go everywhere. Always start at a low speed and place a tea towel over the top of the blender.
• THE SEASONING This is where things really come together.
• Return the soup to the pot and set the heat to low. Now, add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and cumin, to taste; along with the apple-cider vinegar. I like a large amount of salt (to compliment the tomatoes), enough pepper, and pepper flakes to give it a bit of heat (more heat in the Winter than Summer), a pinch or two of cumin (to keep it savory), and apple-cider vinegar (for a bit of tang). Note: If you are not using good canned tomatoes, you might need to add a pinch or two of sugar (this will aid in removing the bitter taste of the tomatoes). Remember, you can always add more spice, but you cannot take them out. So, add just a bit at a time, and taste.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Serve while nice and warm with a dollop of sour cream, or yogurt, and crusty bread. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.