Farmstand Tomato Soup With Arugula Pesto Food

FARMSTAND TOMATO SOUP WITH ARUGULA PESTO

Steps:

• To Make the Soup:
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set the cored tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and roast them until they look wrinkly, about 30 minutes; set aside. While the tomatoes cool, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small sauté pan. Add the shallots and 2 cloves chopped garlic and sauté over medium-low heat until they turn golden brown and caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes; set aside.
• When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off the skins, which should slip off easily. Put the peeled tomatoes in the jar of a blender along with the sautéed shallots and garlic, crushed tomatoes (with juice), 1 tablespoon salt, and sugar. Process until the soup is smooth. Stir in the cream and vodka, if desired. Refrigerate in a covered bowl for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight.
• To Make the Pesto:
• Toast the pine nuts, stirring occasionally, in a skillet set on medium heat until they turn golden brown, about 4 minutes. Combine the arugula, pine nuts, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and lemon juice in the jar of a blender or the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, then slowly add in the olive oil through the feed tube and process. Transfer the pesto to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan.
• To Serve:
• Ladle the chilled soup into individual serving bowls, and swirl 1 tablespoon of pesto into each.
• Do it early
• The soup can be made up to 4 days in advance and refrigerated. Ditto for the pesto. Both should be well covered. Arugula pesto does not brown when exposed to oxygen as does its more common cousin, basil pesto.
• Variation
• The more traditional-minded may prefer a basil pesto. Also, you can eliminate the cream and top the soup with a dollop of crème fraîche or Greek-style yogurt and a drizzle of pesto.

BAKED TOMATOES WITH ARUGULA PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Oil a baking dish that will snugly accommodate the tomatoes. Core the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Place a spoonful of pesto into each core.
• Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until the surface of the pesto is just beginning to color. Remove from the heat. Serve warm.

FARMSTAND TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the tomato halves, cut side down, on a jelly roll pan and drizzle with 2 tsps. of the olive oil.
• Bake for 35 minutes until tender and slightly charred.
• Remove tomatoes from oven and cool.
• Discard skins.
• Heat remaining 1 tsp olive oil in a 2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the carrot, garlic, and herbs.
• Saute for 8 minutes.
• Stir in the broth.
• Partially cover, reduce the heat, and let simmer for 20 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
• Add the tomato halves.
• Place half of the mixture in a blender and process until smooth and repeat with remaining mixture. You can also blend it all with a stick blender.
• Return pureed mixture to saucepan and add the milk, salt, pepper and stir over low heat until thoroughly heated. Do not boil.
• Sprinkle with additional fresh herbs if desired just before serving.

EASY FARMSTAND FRESH CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Place all ingredients except the cream and basil or dill (if using) in a large saucepan. Simmer for approximately 30 minutes, or until veggies are soft.
• Using an immersion blender, puree the veggie mixture to your preferred smoothness (I like to have some tomato chunks in it, so I leave it a little chunky. If I accidentally over-puree it, I'll cheat and add a small can of diced tomatoes).
• Add light cream (start with 1/2 cup and add more to taste -- amount will depend on flavor of the tomatoes). Heat soup gently over low heat.
• Before serving, stir in fresh herbs (if using), and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve soup hot or chilled, whichever you prefer (hot is my preference).