Oven-Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup

Photo: flickr user matthewf01

Ingredients

4 plum tomatoes halved lengthwise

2 garlic cloves minced

2 tablespoons pure olive oil

Salt to taste

Freshly-ground black pepper to taste

1 cup pure olive oil

8 garlic cloves peeled, and

sliced paper thin

2 tablespoons pure olive oil

1 medium Spanish onion chopped

1/2 cup white wine

4 cups chicken stock

2 cups canned plum tomatoes

6 roasted garlic cloves

Oven Roasted Tomatoes (see above)

2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

1 tablespoon honey

Salt to taste

Freshly-ground white pepper to taste

Preparation

Oven Roasted Tomatoes: Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place the tomatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet. Combine the garlic and olive oil and brush the tomatoes with it, then season to taste with the salt and pepper. Roast until dried and soft, about 8 hours.

Garlic Chips: Heat oil in a medium skillet until the oil begins to shimmer. Add the garlic and cook until the slices begin to brown and curl. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Tomato Soup: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke and saute the onions until golden. Add the wine, raise the heat to high, and reduce until almost dry. Add the stock, canned tomatoes, roasted garlic and Oven Roasted Tomatoes and reduce by one-quarter.

Puree the mixture in a food processor and pour into a large pot. Add the thyme, honey and salt and pepper to taste and set aside until just before serving time.

Reheat over medium heat and pour into a large serving bowl. Garnish with Garlic Chips.

This recipe yields 8 servings.