Soup's On: Cream of Fresh Tomato

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
2 small carrots, peeled and finely diced
2 tablespoons flour
2 pound fresh tomatoes, chopped, or 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, juices reserved
2 cups reduced-sodium canned chicken broth or make your own
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon fresh lime basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons fresh lemon thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a large nonreactive saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and carrot and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes without allowing to color.
3. Add tomatoes with their juices, broth, tomato paste, basil, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer stirring frequently, 15 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf.
4. In a food processor or blender with caution, puree soup in very small batches until smooth. Return to pan and stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes, and serve.
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