Fill the Freezer—Cream of Tomato Soup

There are so many tomato soup recipes out there, but this is my favorite because every time I've made it for people, they have always requested the recipe. It's a crowd-pleaser, can be made ahead and is festive for the holiday season.

It also contains a secret ingredient: allspice. Allspice is the dried fruit of the Pimenta dioica plant, but it has the flavors of some other spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

You can make this soup now, put it in canning jars, and freeze it. Once it's frozen, remove it from the jar and freeze in a freezer bag. This way you can use the canning jar for other uses.

Serve with baked Parmesan Crisps, Cheddar Shortbread or Goldfish! You can serve the soup in antique tea cups at Christmas or shot glasses for a cocktail party.

Recipe

8-10 servings

Adapted from The New Basics Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 onions, sliced
1 carrot, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (28 oz each) tomatoes
1 tablespoon pesto or 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chiffonade
pinch of sugar
salt and pepper
4 cups chicken or turkey stock
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 cups whipping cream

In a large, heavy stock pot, melt the butter. Add the onions, carrots, and garlic and cook for about 10 minutes. Then add the tomatoes, pesto or basil, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add the stock and allspice. Bring to a boil, then partially cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour.

Purée the soup in a blender. (You can freeze the soup at this point.) When ready to serve, add the cream and warm. Season and serve.

If you like this post, share it!