French Tomato Soup With Pastry Puff Food

FRESH TOMATO VELOUTé SOUP

Steps:

• Step 1 - In heavy bottom pot, over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. When the butter is foaming, add the onion and garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent but not caramelized yet. Add the diced tomatoes, black pepper, cloves, cayenne pepper (optional), hot pepper flakes (optional) and stock (vegetable or chicken). Stir and bring to a gentle boil. Cover with a lid, turn the heat to medium-low and gently boil for 20 minutes.
• Step 2 - After 20 minutes, purée the soup until smooth, using a food mill, immersion hand blender or working in batches using a regular blender. Transfer the soup to a large bowl and set aside.
• Step 3 - Rinse and dry your heavy bottom pot and place it back onto the stove top, over medium heat. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle with the flour and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until a thick paste forms (a roux) that leaves the edges of the pan clean. Switch to a whisk, and start adding the soup, one cup at a time, and whisking well between each addition to avoid any lumps.
• Step 4 - Once all the soup is back into the pot and smooth, season with salt and stir in 1 tablespoon of honey. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, with more salt and/or honey.
• For serving, pour the soup into bowls and top with a dollop of crème fraiche or heavy cream.
• Optional: Garnish with fresh herbs (ie. parsley or basil) or micro-greens (as pictured).

CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP WITH PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll out a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch.
• Cut out 4 or 5 rounds that are slighly smaller then the soup bowls you will be using.
• Place the rounds on the prepared pans.
• Beat together egg and milk in a small bowl; brush the rounds with this mixture using a pasty brush.
• Bake until golden brown and puffed, about 15 minutes.
• Remove to a wire rack and allow to cool.
• Bring the stock to a rapid simmer in a large saucepan.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter with the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
• Add the shallots and saute until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in the flour and cook about 3 minutes, stirring constantly; do not let mixture turn brown.
• Stir in the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and whisk in the simmering stock.
• Return to medium-low heat, cover partially and simmer gently for 20 minutes; remove from heat.
• Puree the soup in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth.
• Return soup to the pot and place over low heat; bring to a simmer.
• Stir in the Marsala or brandy and simmer an additional 3 minutes.
• Stir in the half and half and simmer another 5 minutes; taste and adjust seasoning; remove from heat.
• Stir in the chives and ladle into warm shallow bowls and top each with a puff pastry round; serve immediately.

CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Melt 8 tablespoons of the butter in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Add the onion, garlic, peppercorns, thyme, and bay leaf; cover and cook for about 5 minutes. Do not let the onion color. Add the tomato paste and lightly "toast" the tomato paste to cook out the raw flavor, then add the tomatoes and 1 cup water, if needed (use only if tomatoes are not ripe and juicy). Simmer over low heat until the tomatoes and onion are very soft and broken down, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Purée by passing through a food mill (or use a blender in batches, then strain). Return the soup to the pot. Add the cream and the salt, white pepper, and 2 to 4 more tablespoons butter to taste. Bring the soup to a simmer, then remove it from the heat. Allow the soup to cool for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Divide the soup among six 8-ounce soup cups or bowls. Roll out the puff pastry to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out 6 rounds slightly larger than your cups. In a small bowl, beat together the egg with 1 tablespoon cold water. Use a brush to paint the dough with the egg wash and then turn the circles, egg wash-side down, over the tops of the cups, pulling lightly on the sides to make the dough somewhat tight like a drum. (Try not to allow the dough to touch the soup.).
• Preheat the oven to 450°F Lightly paint the top of the dough rounds with egg wash without pushing the dough down. Bake until the dough is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Do not open the oven in the first several minutes of cooking, as the dough may fall, serve immediately.

TOMATO BISQUE WITH PUFF PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• In large saucepan over medium heat, cook onion and garlic in oil until softened. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add seasonings and simmer for about 30 minutes. Add tomato juice; puree in a blender. Add heavy cream and heat until very hot.
• Cut rounds of puff pastry about 1/2-inch larger than the size of your soup bowls. Refrigerate pastry between sheets of wax paper. Mix egg yolk and milk for egg wash in a small bowl.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place hot soup into bowls. Add a slice of goat cheese to each bowl. Wet the rim and outside edge of the bowl, and top each with a round of puff pastry. Press on the edges of the dough so it sticks to the bowl. Brush a thin layer of egg wash all over pastry and place bowls on a baking sheet in oven. Bake for 5-10 minutes until pastry is nicely browned. Serve immediately.