Tomato Basil Soup

Rich, creamy and tasty tomato basil soup is good to eat and healthy too. Especially in winter months, this warm soup satisfies the senses.

Ingredients:

Tomatoes - 4 to 5

Capsicum - 1- 2 pieces

Celery - 1

Dried basil - 1-2 tbsp

Green chillies - 1-2

Butter - 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds - 1tbsp

Onion - 1/2

Pepper Jeera Powder - 1/2 tbsp

Salt - As per taste

Sugar - 1/2 tbsp
Mint leaves - To garnish
Bread - 2 pieces

Procedure:

1. In a pan, heat butter and add cumin seeds,capsicum pieces, celery pieces, finely chopped green chillies and saute for few minutes.

2. Grind a portion of finely chopped onions and tomatoes and make gravy without water.

3. Add this to the above sauted veggies. Add remaining portion of tomatoes and onions as is.

4. Once the tomatoes are cooked, add water, salt,jeera pepper powder, sugar, dried basil, finely chopped mint leaves and bring to a boil.

5. Now blend the above contents to a very smooth consistency and strain

6. In a pan, heat butter and add a spoon of all purpose flour and cook it slightly brown. Make sure it doesn't burn. To this add the blended and strained mixture, add water for desired consistency. Turn off the heat and take the soup into a bowl.

7. Now, cut the bread pieces into squares, heat butter/ghee in a pan ,fry the bread pieces and keep aside.

8. Finally, to the soup, add the fried bread pieces and garnish with pudina and serve hot.