Description
A classic and comforting meal featuring a rich, creamy tomato soup paired perfectly with crispy, gooey grilled cheese toasties. This recipe blends fresh tomatoes, aromatic onions, and garlic into a smooth soup, served alongside golden grilled cheese sandwiches with melted Cheddar and mozzarella for the ultimate cozy lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
For the Tomato Soup
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 700 g fresh tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced
- 250 ml vegetable stock
- 75 ml double cream
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Grilled Cheese Toasties
- 4 slices thick white bread
- Softened butter, for spreading
- 50 g Cheddar, grated
- 50 g mozzarella, grated
- Double cream, for drizzling on soup
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick heavy-based pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become soft and translucent.
- Cook Tomatoes and Garlic: Add the roughly chopped tomatoes and sliced garlic to the pan. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and release their juices.
- Add Stock and Simmer: Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer. Let it simmer gently for 10 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Add Cream and Simmer: Pour in the double cream, stir well, and continue simmering for another 5 minutes to enrich the soup.
- Blend the Soup: Remove the pan from heat. Carefully use a handheld stick blender to blitz the soup until smooth. Alternatively, transfer the hot soup in batches to a food processor and blend until smooth, taking care due to the heat.
- Season and Keep Warm: Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Keep it warm over low heat until ready to serve.
- Prepare Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: Lay the bread slices on a board and butter both sides thoroughly. In a bowl, combine the grated Cheddar and mozzarella. Divide the cheese mixture equally between two slices of bread, then place the other slices on top to form two sandwiches.
- Cook the Sandwiches: Heat a large non-stick frying or griddle pan over medium heat. Place the sandwiches into the hot pan (cook one at a time if the pan is small). Press down firmly with the back of a spatula and cook for 2-3 minutes until the underside is golden and crisp. Flip the sandwiches and cook the other side similarly. The sandwiches are ready when the cheese inside has melted and the bread is crisp and golden.
- Serve: Spoon the tomato soup into bowls and drizzle with a swirl of double cream. Slice each grilled cheese sandwich in half and serve alongside the soup. Enjoy your comforting meal!
Notes
- Use ripe, fresh tomatoes for the best soup flavor.
- Butter both sides of the bread to ensure a golden, crispy crust on the grilled cheese.
- Adjust seasoning in the soup to your taste before serving.
- If you prefer a thinner soup, add a little extra vegetable stock when blending.
- Cooking the sandwiches on medium heat prevents burning while allowing cheese to melt thoroughly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup and Sandwich
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
