Homemade Tomato and Basil Pesto Soup Recipe with Crispy Croutons: Easy, Fresh and Low in Calories

This classic tomato and basil pesto soup is a real knock out. Easy and simple to prepare. Good for a snack or a starter. A real tasty treat. This recipe will give 4 good portions.

Tomato Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of fresh ripe tomatoes, beef, cherry, plum, whatever you fancy, sliced into quarters
• 5 or 6 large crushed garlic gloves, skin on, more if you love garlic
• sea salt
• ground black pepper
• a good handful of fresh oregano, although a good sprinkle of dry works, if fresh is unattainable
• a good handful of fresh basil,
• a good quality olive oil

Method:

Place your tomatoes in an oven proof dish. Scatter over the crushed garlic, sprinkle with sea salt and ground black pepper. Add your oregano and basil mixing through the tomatoes. Lastly drizzle over the oil evenly. Place in your oven for about 30 to 45 minutes on a medium heat.

When your tomatoes are cooked (see picture) remove from the oven and leave to cool. This stage can be done a few days before you want to make the soup, simply keep the tomatoes covered in the fridge. Also suitable for freezing at this stage.

When the tomatoes are cool simple peel of the skins (they come away very easily) squeeze the skins to get all the juice and discard.

You will have a wonderful rustic texture at this stage. Blitz to a fine smooth texture. When ready to serve pour into a saucepan and heat through on a medium heat.

Homemade Pesto Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 gloves of crushed, skinless garlic
• sea salt
• ground black pepper
• good olive oil
• 2 large handfuls of fresh basil leaves only
• handful of pecorino cheese freshly grated
• handful of pine nuts lightly toasted

Method:

Put your garlic cloves, basil leaves and pine nuts into your food processor and blitz. Empty the mixture into a bowl adding a little cheese. Stir in the olive oil slowly, adding more cheese, till you get an oozy mix. Season to taste. The pesto can be made 2 days before hand. Store in an air tight container in the fridge.

Crispy Croutons Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of stale bread, crusts removed, cut into smallish squares
• sunflower oil to fry
• a good pinch of fine garlic salt
• a good pinch of dry oregano
• a good pinch of dry basil

Method:

While your soup is heating through. In a bowl mix together your herbs and salt. Heat your oil in a non stick pan on a medium heat. Throw in the bread squares and move briskly around with a fork or spoon till golden. Remove to kitchen paper. Toss into your bowl and mix to coat the croutons.

Warm soup bowls. Put a good teaspoon of the pesto in the bottom of each bowl. Pour in the hot soup. Add your fresh basil leaves and croutons. Add a little drizzle of olive oil (optional) and enjoy.

• Serve white crusty bread/rolls and a glass of dry white wine with this soup for a great supper.
• Alternatively opt for warm melba toast with a little extra pesto on the side.
• Go all out. Serve with mediterranean panini tomato bread and goats cheese for a knock out dish.

This base soup recipe is very low in calories and virtually fat free.

The basic ingredients ie tomatoes, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper are zero calorie foods (check out the hub below).

The drizzle of olive oil can be a little less, but remember it's also good for you.

To keep the croutons a little more diet friendly toast the bread, cut into cubes and add to your herb and salt mix to coat.

As for the pesto, add a small teaspoon rather than a large and you've got a great soup for less than 125 calories.

Yes I've done the math. Enjoy without the guilt.

Copyright:

© 2010 Gabriel Wilson All Rights Reserved