August 05, 2010
Check Out Some Tasty Summer Recipes!
The Cooking Channel is highlighting some great summer recipes. Here's one that sounds particularly appetizing:
Summer Tomato Soup with Basil and Croutons
TOTAL TIME:12 hr 30 min
PREP: 30 min
INACTIVE PREP: 12 hr 0 min
LEVEL: Intermediate
YIELD: 4 servings
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds very ripe tomatoes, quartered, seeded, and chopped
1/2 English cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
1/2 red pepper, cored and diced
1/2 small onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 ounce fresh brown bread crumbs
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, plus more as needed
1 cup vegetable stock or tomato juice
2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked
16 fresh basil leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pinch cayenne pepper
Honey, optional
4 tablespoons tiny butter-fried croutons, optional
DIRECTIONS
Mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, onion, garlic, and bread crumbs in a medium glass bowl. Add the vinegar, stock, thyme, and 12 of the basil leaves. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and marinate 12 hours in the refrigerator.
Puree the mixture, and season to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. If too acidic (and this will depend on the tomatoes you've used), add a little honey.
Serve cold with the remaining basil leaves shredded and scattered over top along with some croutons, if using.
For more fresh and fun ideas for the summer, go to CookingChannel.com!
