Tomato Basil Soup

Tomato Soup is the most easiest recipe of all the dishes. It is the most healthy reward one can give to our stomach. When tired and hungry at same time my husband and me come up with this recipe along with the grilled cheese sandwiches on side. Authentic style of having a bowl of tomato soup is with Grilled Cheese Sandwich. There are numerous ways to make this tomato soup, either adding basil leaves to the soup, or bread croutons. I am preparing it old school style but with an addition of basil leaves.


Ingredients:
4-5 Tomatoes
3-4 Basil Leaves
1 Bay Leaf
2 whole Pepper
1 tbsp Ghee/Butter/Oil
Salt to taste
Bread Croutons (Optional)
1 tsp Pepper Powder (Garnish)


Method:
Add all tomatoes to a cooker with 1 glass of water. Make sure not to add too much of water as tomatoes themselves have their own flavor.
After 4-5 whistles turn off the gas. Let the cooker cool down. Remove all tomatoes from the cooker and using a grinder turn them to fine mixture. If need be add water to the mixture.
Heat the same cooker and add ghee/butter/oil to the pan.
Once the ghee/butter/oil is hot enough add  whole pepper, bay leaf to the cooker. Pour in the tomato mixture and give it a good mix.
Add salt to taste.
Roughly chop the basil leaves and add it to the mixture. Do not chop the basil leaves finely.
Give it a good stir. Once it comes to a boil remove it from the burner and serve in a bowl.
At this point you could also add 1 tsp of creamer if you like it. We love to have it as it is.
If you like bread croutons then below is the recipe for the same:
Cut the bread into cubes and place in a large bowl.
Add some oil, salt and pepper to the bread. Mix well.
Spread the bread in the baking sheet and put it in preheat oven for 15 mins at 400 degress F.
If you do not have oven shallow fry the bread croutons in oil.