How to Make Rich Tomato Soup

Rich tomato soup makes a nutritious lunch or delectable side dish to salads and sandwiches. Nothing complements a toasty grilled cheese sandwich quite like a hot bowl of thick tomato soup for dipping. If you've never made tomato soup from scratch, and you've only eaten it from the can, this tomato soup recipe will make you a believer in homemade soup.

Ingredients:
6 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup grated carrot
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup chicken broth
6 oz tomato paste
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp basil
salt, pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, saute the tomato, onion, garlic, carrot, and bell pepper in olive oil over medium heat. When the vegetables are soft, add the chicken broth, tomato paste, and basil. Let the tomato soup simmer over medium low, covered, for about 30 minutes.

After half an hour of cooking, blend the soup in a food processer. You may need to do this in small batches and use another large pot to hold the blended tomato soup. Once you have blended the whole pot, return the soup to low heat and let it simmer for about 15 minutes uncovered.

Serve hot and add salt and pepper to taste. Some people prepare a heartier tomato soup by adding chopped cooked bacon, cooked ground beef, or shredded chicken.