Everyday Brilliant Tomato Soup

 Hi, this recipe is from Sam Stern's Student Cookbook. It made a lovely tomato soup, just enough for 4 people and it was delicious with some nice bread rolls as well. This was very simple and easy to make and can easily be adapted to suit your personal preferences of what a tomato soup should be like. Enjoy!!

Dietary Info:

-No Nuts 
-Contains Gluten {Use a G-F bread instead, it will work just the same}
-Contains Dairy {This will depend of the bread you use and the additional toppings you choose to add}
-Suitable for Vegetarians
-Suitable for Vegans {Use Vegan bread}

Ingredients:
-1tbsp oil {I used extra virgin}
-1 medium onion, finely chopped {We had 3/4 of an onion left in the fridge so I just used that, but I did add in a pinch of onion powder instead and about 1/4tsp of garlic granules}
-1 clove of garlic, crushed {I used 2 finely chopped}
-1x400g tin tomatoes {I used chopped tomatoes}
-600ml/1pint vegetable stock (own or mix 1/2tsp Marigold stock in boiling water) {I used a stock pot that was meant for 500ml of water but I just added the extra 100ml anyway}
-1tbsp tomato puree
-35g crustless bread {I cut the crusts off of a 44g slice and it was exactly 35g afterwards}
-Fresh basil leaves or a pinch dried oregano {I used dried mixed herbs}
-Salt and pepper
Optional toppings:
-Finely diced red pepper
-Cucumber
-Hard boiled egg
-Fried bread {croutons}
-Torn basil {I used dried herbs}

Method:
1: Heat the oil in a {large} saucepan. Add the onion and garlic. Cook gently for 5min or until soft, not coloured. {season with some salt here}. Tear the bread and add with all the other ingredients. Boil for 1min.
2: Reduce heat. Simmer gently for 20mins. Taste. Adjust seasoning.
3: Blitz in a pan or jug with a hand blender or leave rough. {I left mine with a few bits in it but mainly pureed}. Reheat gently.
4: Serve topped with the extras or plate them up for the table.
EXTRAS:
1)Make a Bloody Mary Soup: stir in a bit of vodka and a shake of Worcestershire sauce
2)Stir in brought or homemade pesto
3)Drop in diced cheddar at the end to boost your calcium and protein