Since I bought a food processor my cooking has been revolutionized. It’s nothing but a simple juicer that soon earned space and authority in my kitchen as the author of many smoothies and drinks. This tomato soup made on a windy winter day in London, is only one of the ways I implemented the cheap tool. I am not ashamed to tell you I have even used it to make a ragu (well, my mum in Italy would be ashamed).
Although effortless in principle, a good tomato soup is not easy to make. I’ve experienced a few disasters with most of my attempts leading to sour and/or too liquid soups. We all know how good fresh tomato is: why is it that when cooked and processed to a sauce, tomato brings lots of acidity to the palate (and stomach)?
In short, I was never that lucky to find the perfect sweet tomatoes and I always disliked the taste of my soup.
Then I changed strategy:
I started selecting the right ingredients what I like to call “the unconventional tomatoes”. Those ones pretty soft and very ripe. Those ones you wouldn’t consider because they are too mature and you’d never buy for any other recipe. Long and moisty San Marzano tomatoes would be just perfect, otherwise well ripen tomatoes on the vine would do well too.
Before leaving you to the recipe I’m going to “reveal” one last secret. How I prevent the soup from becoming too acidic. Which would always happen otherwise, no matter the kind of tomato I use, since any tomato juice has a pH of about 4.3, a rather low value (low pH, high acidity).
All types of dairy products produce acids in our stomachs. Cream, butter and milk are among them. Fresh low-fat yogurt is an exception, providing proteins that nourish without producing acids. Here’s then unveiled my secret ingredient: yogurt. Many would choose a sour cream or butter; to make the soup gentle to my stomach I opt for a dense organic yogurt, instead. Try it this way and let me know.
Now off to blend more stuff. What do you use your blender for? If you have any “crazy” idea, please share it with me!
Tomato and Basil Soup
Ingredients
- 5 ripe tomatoes
- 1 yellow pepper optional
- salt and chilli
- 3 Tbsp natural yogurt
- 1 cup tomato sauce italian passata
- Few leaves of basil
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Bring the tomatoes to the boil. Cook until the skin starts peeling off.
- In another pan meantime cook the tomato sauce with chilli and oil for 10-15 minutes minutes.
- Let this sauce cool down then pour it the blender together with the tomatoes and blend on high for about 60 seconds or until blended to a smooth consistency.
- Add the basil leaves to the soup and transfer to a sauce pan, heat for for 3-4 mins. Turn off the fire, add the yogurt and stir well. Garnish with more basil and, and if you want the soup chunkier, dice up some pieces of vegetables you have available. Serve with toasted bread (which you can drizzle with olive oil, vinegar and oregano and grill in the oven for 3-4 mins).
Do you boil the tomatoes in water? Then remove them from the water? Do you leave the skins on the tomatoes? Thanks.
One question about the ingredients. It say salt and chilli. What kind of chilli? Flakes, whole chilli’s, chilli powder??? Please let me know. This recipe sounds so good!!
Thank you!!
You will also need to be careful with citrus fruit because
they have a lot of citric acid in them. The most recent model of the Power Juicer incorporates soy technology for making high protein drinks
and is called the Elite model. Fruits with high amount of citric acid should
be consumed in moderation.
i added probably a half cup of yogurt and still sour =(
what to do now..?
Hi Jen, you can try adding a bit of sugar (white or brown) to the soup. You could also try drizzling with more oil before serving.
In the recipe, you mention “salt and chilli,” but it’s unclear when you seasoned. Also, do you mean chili powder, chili flakes, whole chilis, etc…? Thanks!
Thank you for this amazing post, Daniela! I made Fagioli All’Uccelletta very often and all canned peeled tomatoes taste different and may vary in taste – and there was one time that it tasted a bit tart. Awesome to know that the yogurt helps keep the acid down, what a great trick – I wonder if any non-dairy or vegan yogurts will work with this. I love to give it a try! I love the first beautiful shot!
I love a good tomato soup and the addition of yogurt sounds perfect! A nice alternative to heavy cream.
And yes, I would die without my food processor.
Love yogurt in soups!! Especially this lusciousness 🙂
I use my blender for everything! But it’s broke now. So so sad!
Yogurt and tomato… my mum thought it’s a very strange combination! Hope you’ll get a nice blender soon, Kiran. Mine is a rather cheap one, I’d love to buy a real food processor when I’ll settle down.
Oh my gosh Daniela – this soup looks amazing! Gorgeous! I wanted to grab that bowl out of your hand and have it for breakfast! Pinned!
Ahahahah Thanks Kristi! I have the same feeling when I look at this pic 🙂
Neat trick! I always push those mushy tomatoes aside in pursuit of their more firm counterparts – little did I know they -do- have a good use!
Thank you so much for posting this. I wanted to have some tomato soup, and have been alkalizing, or at least reducing the acidity level. I have never felt better in my life. Actually I probably did when I was younger, but the point is after 4 days of doing
more of an alkaline diet, I feel my body healing, and I lost over ten pounds, Doing Nothing, except alkalizing. Point is THANKS
SO MUCH I can KEEP on alkallizing. Looks fantastic. Grazie molto. Ben Fatto.