Fire Roasted Tomato Bisque | Renee's Kitchen Adventures

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Fire Roasted Tomato Bisque

Who doesn't think grilled cheese and tomato soup isn't one of  the top comfort foods ever?  I have been craving this combo all week!   I am a big fan of Amy's Organic Tomato Bisque...but sadly, I had none in my pantry.  Then I remembered a tomato soup recipe developed by a fellow blog buddy Biz from My Bizzy Kitchen.  Biz is what I believe to be a mastermind at soups...really.  Check out her blog, it's full of great  healthy recipes, but I most admire her for her wonderful soups!




I have always been a bit skeptical about soups that are quick cooking...feeling they lack that depth of flavor a long simmering soup gets.  They often taste "flat" to me.  But NOT this soup!  It has a nice complex flavor with minimal simmer time, making it perfect for a quick dinner or lunch.  Paired with a skinny grilled cheese ( 2 slices of Nickels 35 Multi-grain bread, 2 pp, with a slice of WW American Cheese, 1pp, lightly toasted in a nonstick skillet with cooking spray) it makes a really satisfying meal for 5pp!  I have to give the WW brand of cheese a shout out.  I don't often buy WW brand foods, but I am fond of their dairy products, especially the cheese.  The American I used in the sandwich has good flavor and melts beautifully all for 1pp per slice.  I also love the WW string cheese and cream cheese...all regular staples at my house.

I admit, I did change up Biz's recipe a bit to my taste ( I like my tomato soup on the sweet side)  and with the ingredients I had on hand.

Fire Roasted Tomato Bisque 
adapted from MyBizzyKitchen

Servings - 8   Serving size - approx. 1 1/2 cups   PP per svg - 2 points+
Calories - 79,   Total Fat - 1.9g,   Carb. - 13.1g,   Protein - 2g,   Fiber - 2.2g

Ingredients:
1TBS unsalted butter
1/2 cup - 1 cup diced onions
1 carrot, peeled and diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced 
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 - 28oz can diced tomatoes ( low salt if you can find them ) 
1 - 14 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 TBS granulated sugar
3 cups low sodium, fat free chicken broth
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup fat free half and half
Directions:
1.  Heat butter in dutch oven or large stock pot.  Add onion, carrot, and garlic, and thyme.  Cook until vegetables are soft and fragrant.   Add both cans of tomatoes, sugar and chicken broth.  Bring to boil and then partially cover and turn down to a simmer.  Allow to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.  

2.  Turn off heat.  With an immersion blender, carefully puree soup.  Once the soup is nice and smooth, add in the fat free half and half and salt and pepper to taste.  Garnish with a dollop of fat free plain greek yogurt.

Cooks Note:  I think this soup would also be excellent if you swap the thyme with dried basil or fresh basil.  If using fresh basil, add when you add the half and half at the end. 


This combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup has to be one of my all time favorite comfort foods.  As you can tell by my recipes, I am a big fan of comfort food!  What are your favorite comfort foods?

9 comments:

  1. I agree!!!! Tomato soup and grilled cheese are just heavenly together. Biz rocks! I love her recipes. I passed your blog onto my Aunt. She is doing WW and I told her you'd provide some FABULOUS ideas :)

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  2. Tomato soup and grilled cheese are my absolutely amazing! I am back on posting my WW recipes!

    xo

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  3. I still haven't made tomato soup this winter and I can't believe it! It sounds so good! Thanks! Love Biz's recipes!

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  4. Renee, this is the ultimate comfort food. Your soup looks and sounds delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  5. You are so good! I have homemade tomato puree (with stock) in my freezer, but when I pull that out, I'm adding cream and then topping it with puff pastry only because it's from the last of my heirloom tomatoes! Anyhow, I too like the Amy', so I might have to try the recipe you posted today.

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  6. Thanks for the shout out Renee - glad you liked it! You know, when I make pasta sauce from scratch, I do sometimes add sugar to it to round out the flavors - never thought of it for soup though!

    And you can keep the onions! :D

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  7. MMM! This looks SOOOO soothing! My husband and I were JUST talking about having a soup and sandwich dinner tonight. Comfort food at its finest for the end of winter!! Have a great day Renee!!!

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  8. OK, I *need* to try this recipe!! We follow a low sodium diet, but I think I can swing using no salt added diced tomatoes and organic low sodium FF chicken broth and still use the regular fire-roasted canned tomatoes and be ok on the sodium level. I also just got an immersion blender last month and have been LOVING IT!! (If you wanted to post more immersion blender recipes, I wouldn't mind.) ;)
    Thanks for sharing!!! Hoping to try this one out next week.

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  9. Oh this soup really looks fantastic! Growing up tomato soup and grilled cheese was a staple in our house =)

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