When I woke up to the patter of rain this morning, I did what came natural. Went to the kitchen and chopped some veggies for a bowl of hold-me homemade soup. This Real Healthy Tomato Soup recipe was the result.
In the past, before I began to eat healthy, cold weather would make me crave tomato soup from a can, topped with cottage cheese and a side of grilled cheese sandwich. These days I wouldn’t touch soup from a can, dairy or grains, but with this recipe I still get my tomato soup. The added slices of avocado mimic the creaminess of cottage cheese, and a toasted slice of almond bread nicely replaces a grilled cheese sandwich.
4 large heirloom tomatoes
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 sweet yellow onion, chopped
3 sweet colorful bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
6 ounces tomato paste
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
½ cup filtered water
4 cups chicken broth
1 avocado, sliced
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cut a large X into the bottom of each tomato, then drop into the boiling water for 3 minutes. Remove with tongs. Set on a cutting board and allow to cool. Once cooled, peel and seed the tomatoes, then chop.
In a large soup pot, heat the coconut oil over medium. Add the onions, bell peppers, bay leaf, thyme, paprika and garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes, until the onions and peppers become tender.
Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper and water. Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the chicken broth and tomatoes, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
*Optional* At this point you have the option of blending your soup, for a smooth consistency. It is not necessary, it you prefer a chunky soup then do not blend. To blend: Allow the soup to cool before blending in a food processor or by using an immersion blender.
To serve, remove the bay leaf, ladle the soup into 5 soup bowls, then top with sliced avocado and chopped cilantro.
Calories: 170
Fat: 8g
Carbohydrates: 19g
Sodium: 404mg
Fiber: 8g
Protein: 5g
Sugar: —