Name: Fresh tomato soup
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 1 large onion diced; 1 carrot finely chopped; 1 stick celery finely chopped; 50g butter; thyme 3 sprigs; 2 bay leaves; 500g very ripe plum or vine tomatoes roughly chopped; 850ml chicken stock; 8 tbsp crème fraîche; basil a few leaves

A bowl of tomato soup, with a swirl of creme fraiche

1 large onion
diced
1 carrot
finely chopped
1 stick celery
finely chopped
50g butter
thyme
3 sprigs
2 bay leaves
500g very ripe plum or vine tomatoes
roughly chopped
850ml chicken stock
8 tbsp crème fraîche
basil
a few leaves

Method

step 1
Cook the onion, carrot and celery in the butter for 10-15 minutes until really soft. Add the herbs and cook for a minute then tip in the tomatoes and chicken stock. Simmer for 30 minutes, fish out the herbs, add 4 tbsp of the crème fraîche then use a stick blender or food processor to whizz until completely smooth.
step 2
Season then ladle into bowls, adding another spoon of crème fraîche and a couple of basil leaves to each.